Toyota TS040 Hybrid

Toyota TS040 Hybrid

The No. 8 Toyota TS040 Hybrid on display at the 2015 Auto Shanghai show
Category	LMP1-H
Constructor	Toyota
Designer(s)	Pascal Vasselon[1]
Predecessor	Toyota TS030 Hybrid
Successor	Toyota TS050 Hybrid
Technical specifications[2]
Chassis	Carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb monocoque
Suspension (front)	Independent
Suspension (rear)	Independent
Length	4650 mm (2015)
Width	1900 mm (2015)
Height	1050 mm (2015)
Engine	Toyota RV8KLM 3.7 L 90-degree V8 Normally aspirated mid, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	Aisin Reverse + 7-gear Sequential
Power	382 kW (512 hp; 519 PS) (ICE) 353 kW (473 hp; 480 PS) (electric motors) 735 kW (986 hp) (combined)
Weight	873kg (1,924 lb)
Fuel	Shell V-Power
Lubricants	Total Quartz, later Mobil 1
Tires	Michelin 31/71-18 front and rear radials
Competition history
Notable entrants	Toyota Racing
Notable drivers	Alexander Wurz Nicolas Lapierre Kazuki Nakajima Mike Conway Anthony Davidson Stéphane Sarrazin Sébastien Buemi
Debut	2014 6 Hours of Silverstone
First win	2014 6 Hours of Silverstone
Last win	2014 6 Hours of Bahrain
Last event	2015 6 Hours of Bahrain
Races Wins Podiums Poles F/Laps 16 5 14 4 4
Constructors' Championships	1 (2014 FIA WEC)
Drivers' Championships	1 (2014 FIA WEC)

The Toyota TS040 Hybrid is a Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1) sports car built and used by Toyota Motorsport GmbH in the 2014 and 2015 seasons of the FIA World Endurance Championship. Work on the car's design began in November 2012, when the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) published its 2014 technical regulations and Toyota utilised its resources after the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car is an aerodynamic improvement on its predecessor, the TS030 Hybrid, and its design allowed four-wheel drive. It has two kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) regenerative-braking devices at the front and rear axles to charge a supercapacitor and, in accordance with the 2014 regulations, was placed in the 6 MJ (1.7 kWh) class. The TS040's engine was carried over from the TS030; its displacement was increased from 3.4 L (210 cu in) to 3.7 L (230 cu in) for better efficiency, producing 513 horsepower (383 kW) to the rear wheels.

The TS040 was shown to the press for the first time at the 26 March preseason test session at Circuit Paul Ricard, and was driven 25,000 km (16,000 mi) before the start of the 2014 season. Toyota supplied two cars, driven by six drivers, for the season. Nicolas Lapierre, Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi won the season's opening two races in the No. 8 car; Lapierre aquaplaned, crashing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans before recovering to finish third. After the crash, Lapierre was dropped and Buemi and Nakajima won two more races and had another podium finish to win the 2014 World Endurance Drivers' Championship. Consistent performances from Alexander Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin, Kazuki Nakajima and reserve driver Mike Conway won Toyota the World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship at the season-ending 6 Hours of São Paulo.

The car was further developed after the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans in accordance with the 2015 regulations. The front of the TS040 changed, a new suspension preserved tyre life, its supercapacitor was altered for better performance, and two body kits were created to match the car to a track. Although the season began with a third-place finish for the No. 1 car (driven by Buemi, Nakajima and Davidson) at the 6 Hours of Silverstone, the TS040 struggled against rivals Audi and Porsche in the seven remaining rounds before Wurz, Sarrazin and Conway's No. 2 entry finished second at the season-ending 6 Hours of Bahrain; Toyota placed third in the World Endurance Manufacturers' Championship. The TS040 was replaced by the TS050 Hybrid for the 2016 season.