The GR010 HYBRID used 14-inch tires in 2021, but will switch to the second option currently allowed by the rules for this year.
This means that it will run with a Michelin 13 “5 at the front and 15” at the rear, which is the same measurements as the Glickenhaus-007 LMH.
The choice has yet to be confirmed by Toyota, but news gathered by Motorsport.com confirms that pre-season testing took place with the car in the revised configuration.
A Toyota spokesperson did not confirm all this and said the Japanese manufacturer would reveal the technical specifications of the latest GR010 ahead of the official test of the WEC prologue scheduled at Sebring before the 1000 Miglia.
Toyota’s switch between the two tire size options in the regulation was affected by the changes in the regulations following the completion of the convergence process between the LMH and LMDh class, which will take effect next year.
The so-called “120 rule”, ie the minimum speed in km / h at which power can be distributed to the front wheels by an LMH hybrid when racing with slicks, has become part of the BoP.
This means that this speed and the minimum of 150 km / h imposed last year when cars were on wet tires can change from track to track and from car to car.
This follows manufacturers’ concerns, particularly those making rear-wheel drive LMDhs, about the benefits of all-wheel drive.
It is unclear at this time whether the change in Toyota’s tire configuration will count as one of five permissible evolutions for performance reasons, known as ‘evo jokers’ in the regulations, for each manufacturer over the life cycle of an LMH.
They must ask permission to make changes from the FIA and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, who write the rules.
A jolly evo covers an area of the car as defined by the homologation form.
Peugeot has confirmed that its 9X8 is running on 14 “tires both front and rear, and is confident that a fair balance between cars using the different sizes will be maintained in the BoP.
The latest rules say that for LMH cars homologated after 2022 the 13.5 “/ 15” set-up will be mandatory.
Some images of the Toyota 2022 also showed changes to the rear wing side skirts, although it is not clear that they are part of the aerodynamic evolutions for 2022.
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