TS050 Hybrid LMP1
The TS050 Hybrid is a prototype racing car, developed by Toyota in 2016 to compete in the LMP1 class of the FIA World Endurance Championships, which includes the famed Le Mans 24-hour race. Two years prior to this, in 2014, Toyota became the series champion in the TS040 Hybrid. In 2015 they ended the season in 3rd place, and the TS050 was developed from scratch to attempt a return to the top once again, which it later conquered Le Mans in 2018 and 2019.
As with its predecessor, the car was still an all-wheel drive hybrid with a MGU in the front and rear wheels, but the powertrain was greatly changed from the previous naturally aspirated 3.7 liter V8 to a twin turbocharged direct injection 2.4 liter V6. The battery was changed from the super capacitor with fast charge and discharge characteristics to a high-power lithium-ion battery developed for racing, with a high-power storage capacity. The total system output, including the engine and front/rear motors, is 986 BHP, making it equal to the TS040 in this respect, but the torque had been increased significantly due to the turbocharging.
Also, the MGU of the front wheels was made more compact, which allowed design changes to redirect the airflow under the car, further improving its aerodynamic performance.
Two TS050 Hybrids participated in the World Endurance Championships from the Toyota Gazoo Racing team. One was driven by Kazuki Nakajima / Sébastien Buemi / Anthony Davidson, and the other car was driven by Kamui Kobayashi / Stéphane Sarrazin / Mike Conway. In 2016 the Kobayashi team showed great speed and were a contender for the Driver’s Championship, but in the end, they finished 3rd in the season rankings, and placing 3rd in the Manufacturer’s rankings. And the finally the breakthrough was achieved with a back-to-back victory at Le Mans in 2018 and 2019 piloted by Fernando Alonso / Sébastien Buemi/ Kazuki Nakajima in the No. 8 car – redeeming Toyota’s 2016 heartbreak final-lap retirement.
Dallara-Toyota SF19
The top-level Formula Racing in Japan, the Super Formula Series switched the chassis of their race cars to the Dallara SF19 for the 2019 Season competition.
The SF19 is a successor to the SF14 that was used from 2014 to 2018, also designed by Dallara of Italy. Carrying over the agile and light weight concept, the new car was made to meet the F1 safety requirement established by the FIA in 2016, including the introduction of the HALO cockpit protection system for improved safety. It also incorporates revisions in its aerodynamics to balance competition and entertainment value, improving controllability when in close proximity to other cars so that it will be easier to overtake.
The car continues to use the NRE engine introduced in 2014. This is a turbocharged 2 litre inline 4 cylinder with direct injection, specially developed by Toyota under a common regulation and sharing the same components such as the turbine and ECU. The maximum output is unchanged at over 542 BHP, but there is a very fierce development competition within the narrow range allowed between the two engine producers.