One of the maxims in motor sport is that the technology developed on the track makes its way to street cars. And in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), the category that hosts the 6 Hours of São Paulo this Sunday (12) at the Interlagos Circuit, it is no different. A portion of the solutions used by TOYOTA RACING throughout its history in the World Endurance Championship already appears in the vehicles circulating on Brazilian streets.
Having been present in the WEC since 2012, TOYOTA RACING has always used hybrid powertrains in the WEC. Today they are seen in a large number of road models, whether from Toyota or other brands. The Japanese manufacturer’s first model in the World Endurance Championship was the Toyota TS030 Hybrid, still built under the LMP1 regulation, which is no longer used in the championship.
It was with this model, in fact, that TOYOTA RACING achieved its first WEC victory, precisely in the inaugural edition of the 6 Hours of São Paulo. Over these 14 years, several improvements to make racing cars more efficient at transferring this technology to street models were made, particularly in energy regeneration and in battery capacity.
Nowadays TOYOTA RACING competes in the WEC with the Toyota TR010 HYBRID, a model that competes in the Hypercar category, which replaced LMP1 as the World Endurance Championship’s top class under the LMH (Le Mans Hybrid) regulations. If in 2012 the grid had only two hybrid models, considering the Japanese, today 16 of the 18 cars on the grid use this technology.
On Brazilian streets today you can see three Toyota models that feature hybrid propulsion: the Corolla Hybrid, the Corolla Cross Hybrid, and the Yaris Cross. In addition, the manufacturer began assembling at the Sorocaba plant, in the interior of São Paulo, batteries for its hybrid-powered cars, specifically for the Yaris.
On the tracks, the next step is already underway. TOYOTA RACING is working on the development of a hydrogen-powered prototype, the TR LH2. Its public debut occurred at the Circuit de la Sarthe, during the latest edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The model was also shown at the launch of the 6 Hours of São Paulo.
The WEC schedule in Interlagos will open on Friday (10), with two free practice sessions. Saturday will feature another session and the qualifying that will determine the starting grid. The 6 Hours of São Paulo will take place on Sunday, starting at 11:30, with broadcasts on BandSports and YouTube.
