Photo : - Toyota

On the 14th of October 14 the FIA World Endurance Championship will go to Fuji in Japan. This circuit was once the scene of extraordinary battles between the two giants Toyota and Nissan. 

Almost unknown in Europe, the history of Japanese racing reached its peak in the late '60s under the leadership of Nissan and Toyota. These two manufacturers, who had started endurance racing with modest GTs, escalated into producing increasingly high performance prototypes. This battle gave rise to several new technical advances including (well before it was fashionable elsewhere) the use of a turbocharging in sports cars.

It was Toyota to whom we owe this initiative. Dominated by their rivals Nissan in 1969, the company developed a new prototype for the next season with aggressive lines. With a multi-tubular chassis, it was powered by a turbocharged 5-litre V8 with two turbos and developing a whopping 800hp. This monstrous V12 engine would eclipse the Nissan. Alas, the confrontation never took place: the ultimate weapon of Toyota was completely destroyed in a crash that killed the driver Minoru Kawai. Rebuilt with the code name "578A", it is released occasionally from the museum for historic events.

On the 14th of October, Toyota will return to endurance racing at the Fuji 6 hours. This time, the Japanese automaker will aim for victory with a different technology to the turbo: the hybrid engine. The other difference is that the main adversary will be Audi rather than Nissan. 

Julien Hergault

Photo : This Toyota "Turbo" was intended participate in 200 Miles Fuji, the Fuji 1000 km, and the GP of Japan (Fuji) in 1970.