Larger fin, bigger end plates, different tyres: Toyota’s Le Mans hypercar has undergone major updates for the 2022 WEC
Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe has released the first official images of the 2022 GR010 Hybrid. Although the Le Mans hypercars are homologated for five years, there has been plenty of handholding with Toyota via so-called development wildcards
While visually a larger fin and larger rear wing end plates catch the eye, the most far-reaching change is, as predicted, a change in the tyre specifications. While the 2021 Toyota GR010 Hybrid ran on 13-inch-wide tyres (330.2 millimetres), the dimensions are now different at the front and rear.
Narrower tyres with a width of 12.5 inches (317.5 millimetres) are used on the front axle and 14 inches (355.6 millimetres) on the rear axle. Both options are provided for in the regulations.
Actually, the option with different wheel sizes was intended for rear-wheel drive Le Mans hypercars like the Glickenhaus 007 LMH. But nowhere is it written that all-wheel drive cars have to run the 13-inch solution.
Toyota technical director Pascal Vasselon says the change is a measure “to address the challenges we had last year in managing the rear tyres. “
Engine adapted to new fuel
The visually visible changes to the fin and end plates of the rear wing have been necessary to offset the effects of the larger wheel arches. It’s both a matter of directing airflow to the rear wing as in the old configuration, and staying within the performance windows dictated by LMH regulations.
World champion and Le Mans winner Kamui Kobayashi, who will also take on the role of “team president” from 2022, is convinced: “Our car should be more consistent now that we have adjusted some areas on the GR010. “
The adjustments include changes to the engine to accommodate TotalEnergies’ new 100 per cent renewable fuel. This is derived from waste products from the wine industry.
Vasselon speaks of an “important step on the road to CO2 neutrality for Toyota and the WEC.” Following winter testing in Europe, the final evaluations will be made at this weekend’s official WEC prologue at Sebring.
Le Mans hypercars are allowed very limited development during their life cycle. Each manufacturer has five development wildcards at its disposal for this purpose. How many of these jokers Toyota has used for the changes is currently left open by the manufacturer.
