Toyota GR010 Hybrid: Toyota’s new Le Mans Hypercar

Born to take over from the successful TS050 Hybrid, the new Toyota GR010 Hybrid is far more than simply Toyota Gazoo Racing’s latest “weapon” for endurance racing.

Built to compete in the new “Le Mans Hypercar” (LMH) class, the GR010 Hybrid is, quite simply, the competition version of the Japanese marque’s forthcoming road-going hypercar, the GR Super Sport.

It also carries a “heavy legacy”. Toyota is the reigning WEC (World Endurance Championship) world champion and has already claimed three victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the new GR010 Hybrid tasked with defending those titles.

A collaborative effort

The GR010 Hybrid was developed over 18 months through a joint project involving engineers from the Germany-based racing team and hybrid powertrain specialists at the Higashi-Fuji electrification technology centre in Japan.

Featuring four-wheel drive, the GR010 Hybrid combines a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 producing 680 hp, which drives the rear axle, with a 272 hp motor-generator developed by AISIN AW and DENSO and fitted to the front axle.

Combined output is capped at 680 hp (500 kW) by the regulations, representing 32% less than its predecessor. This is achieved because the GR010 HYBRID’s electronics reduce engine power according to the amount of hybrid boost being delivered. Transmission duties are handled by a transversely mounted seven-speed sequential gearbox.

Larger and heavier

Compared with the TS050 Hybrid that came before it, the new Toyota GR010 Hybrid has gained some weight. The regulations, and their built-in cost-cutting targets, are responsible for that increase.

Overall, the new GR010 Hybrid is 162 kg heavier than its predecessor, weighing 1040 kg. Measuring 4900 mm long, 2000 mm wide and 1150 mm high, it is also longer (+250 mm), taller (+100 mm) and wider (+100 mm) than the TS050 Hybrid.

Another point of interest regarding the new Toyota GR010 Hybrid is that, for the first time since the Japanese brand entered the WEC, Toyota Gazoo Racing will not use a rear motor-generator unit (MGU).

Instead, the permitted MGU will be located on the front axle, as already mentioned. This required both the installation of a starter motor in the GR010 HYBRID and the adoption of fully hydraulic rear brakes.

A winning team remains unchanged

For its ninth WEC season, Toyota Gazoo Racing has retained the drivers who secured its Le Mans victory and World Endurance Championship title during the 2019/2020 season.

The two GR010 Hybrids will therefore be driven by the current world champions Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López in car number 7, while Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley will race car number 8. Nyck de Vries will remain the test and reserve driver.

In total, the season will feature six races across three different continents:

• 1000 Miles of Sebring, on 19 March;
• 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, on 1 May;
• 24 Hours of Le Mans, between 12 and 13 June;
• 6 Hours of Monza, on 18 July;
• 6 Hours of Fuji Speedway, on 26 September;
• 6 Hours of Bahrain, on 20 November.