Yoshiaki Kinoshita, who has been at the helm since the start of the Japanese constructor's venture into endurance racing, will in fact be returning to work in Japan in April, as part of the usual career management process for Toyota executives. He will be replaced by Toshio Sato, who served as engine engineer during the F1 project and who has since overseen the Toyota and Lexus hybrid system development. This experience should prove highly valuable in helping Toyota retain the Manufacturers' and Drivers' titles won in 2014.

As previously announced, the Toyota TS040 Hybrid will race with "No.1" marked proudbly on its bodywork. The two World Champion drivers, Sébastien Buemi and Anthony Davidson, will be joined in the cockpit by Kazuki Nakajima, who will compete in a full FIA World Endurance Championship season for the first time. The sister car will be entrusted to Alexander Wurz, two-times 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and the youngest victor to date, Stéphane Sarrazin, who boasts four podiums and three poles at Le Mans, and Mike Conway, who raced in three rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship last year, claiming victory in Bahrein.

Former F1 driver Kamui Kobayashi, who finished fifth in the LM GTE Pro category in a AF Corse Ferrari in Le Mans in 2013, becomes test and reserve driver. Nicolas Lapierre, third on the podium in Le Mans last year with the future world champions, is set to drive in test and development sessions as well as taking part in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in LM P2 for Chinese team KCMG.

Development work on the 2015 version of the Toyota TS040 Hybrid began not long after the 82nd Le Mans 24-Hour race last year, and the car took to the track for the first time at the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet in January. Toyota Racing then took the car to Spain twice before embarking on a final test session in Estoril in Portugal, meaning the TS040 Hybrid has clocked up more than 15,500 miles.
New specs for 2015 include extra weight, a new front end, the suspension and, of course, the engine which will still deliver 1,000 hp. On the other hand, the car will remain in the 6MJ hybrid subclass (there are four subclasses, from 2 to 8 MJ).

Finally, the biggest news of the day concerns Toyota's plans to stay in endurance racing, and in LM P1 in particular, for some time to come. The team's Technical Director, Pascal Vasselon revealed that the Japanese manufacturer is set to compete for at least another three years, and that no time limit has been set for the moment. The Frenchman also confirmed that the main goal for Toyota in 2015 is to claim victory at Le Mans with one of its two cars, up against rivals who are all entering three cars.

While we wait for June and Le Mans, Toyota Racing will be at the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet for the official FIA World Endurance Championship test sessions.

Text Cécile Bonardel / ACO Translated by Clair Pickworth
Photo : Harald DAWO - Toyota