Toshio Sato: “Focused on 2016”

Crowned in 2014, we were still waiting for Toyota in 2015, but the Japanese firm was unable to respond to the challenge launched by Porsche. The manufacturer is already looking towards 2016.

Published on 15/10/2015 à 15:02

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Sovereign in 2014 in the World ChampionshipEndurance, the brand Toyota had once again failed in his quest for victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. An addict in an almost exemplary season which was crowned by world titles at the end of last year.

The transition in 2015, however, was not at the expected level. Unable to join in the struggle between Porsche and Audi, the TS040 Hybrid is struggling on the car scene WEC with only one podium to the credit of world champion duo Anthony Davidson? Sébastien Buemi at Silverstone.

Now it is towards the future that Toyota Motorsport is turning with the future TS050 due to debut next year. « We have been totally focused, for several weeks, on 2016, confided Toshio Sato, president of Toyota Motorsport GmbH to AUTOhebdo, on the sidelines of the Fuji event.

Hisatake Murata, the leader of the hybrid part, no longer travels to the races. He remains at Toyota Motor Corporation (in Tokyo) to develop the hybrid system for our future car. » A TS050 which could feature a turbocharged V6 in 2016, coupled with a new hybrid system based on batteries.

Find the full interview with Toshio Sato, and the full report of the Fuji WEC event, carried out by our special correspondent in Japan, in issue 2033 of AUTOhebdo, available in digital version and on newsstands.