Never change a winning team. And so far the saying is known. If anything, however, they try to improve it, and here is the great job that Toyota Gazoo Racing has done during the winter on its Hypercar.
Over the weekend there will be official tests with the Sebring Prologue, where in about ten days we will start to get serious for the 1000 Miglia, the first round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
The reigning Drivers-Constructors Champions have changed a few things on the GR010 Hybrid, starting with the Michelin tires. Compared to 2021, in Japan it was decided to switch to different sizes, namely 12 “5 tires at the front and 14” at the rear.
Also, as it appeared in some amateur videos shot during rehearsals at the Paul Ricard, there are minor changes to the rear aerodynamics, in the part of the wing side supports and a fin on the elongated bonnet.
# 7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 – Hybrid: Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, Jose Maria Lopez
Photo by: Toyota Racing
The roof of the passenger compartment also has two renewed flaps to better channel the flows towards the rear, clearly remaining in those small windows of modifications allowed by an LMH regulation which, as known, freezes the cars from their homologation for 5 years.
In this period there are 5 Jokers available to use for development and improvements, even if from this point of view the TGR has not specified how many have been spent, only revealing that the technicians have put their hands on the engine to adapt to the new ones. gasoline introduced by the FIA WEC in collaboration with TotalEnergies.
“The whole team is excited to get back to racing and we feel fit after a really great preseason testing program. Development in the Hypercar class is strictly controlled by homologation rules. As a result there have been few changes for our GR010. in 2022 “, explains the Technical Director, Pascal Vasselon.
“LMH Manufacturers can choose between 31-31 or 29-34 tires and this year we switched to the 29-34 option, with some changes to the bodywork for cooling and to keep aerodynamic performance within the homologation window.”
“We expect this change to overcome the challenges we faced last season with rear tire management. In addition, the introduction of the new renewable fuel meant that the engine parameters had to be adjusted to take into account the slightly different characteristics.”
“This new fuel is an important step in the journey towards carbon-neutral for us and the FIA WEC, so we are very much in favor of this innovation. We have deliberated all the changes during our winter tests and will take the final steps this weekend with the prologue to Sebring before the start of the season “.
# 7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 – Hybrid: Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, Jose Maria Lopez
Photo by: Toyota Racing
Kamui Kobayashi, who took on the role of team principal at the wall, as well as driver, adds:
“Everyone in the team is looking forward to starting the 2022 season, especially at Sebring, which is a very famous place for endurance racing. Last year we won Le Mans and the World Championship, so this is our goal.” .
“We have found some areas to refine the GR010 from last season, so we have been working on those and I think our car will be more consistent now. Thanks to everyone at Toyota, our partners and team members for their hard work and support. to be ready for the WEC 2022 season “.
“I’m sure it will be an exciting year in the Hypercar class. We take up the challenge thrown at us by Peugeot, Glickenhaus and Alpine, and we can’t wait to give fans memorable battles in the coming months.”
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