Here's Toyota’s New Twin-Turbo V6 LMP1 Beast

We now have a full set of LMP1 cars for the FIA WEC in 2016, with Toyota following Audi and Porsche in revealing its new prototype - the TS050 Hybrid

Jack Leslie

Updated: 10 Oct 2024

Here's Toyota’s New Twin-Turbo V6 LMP1 Beast

Following the recent LMP1 launches from Audi and Porsche, Toyota has completed the set and become the last manufacturer to unveil its 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship machine.

The TS050 Hybrid is a vastly different car to its predecessor and is the third all-new WEC LMP1 car from Toyota Gazoo Racing. It is also the first to be powered by a turbo engine, with the old N/A V8 ditched by the team.

The new prototype, unveiled prior to this week’s test at Paul Ricard, goes down a very different engine route, being powered by a 2.4-litre twin-turbo, direct injection V6 petrol engine and a new hybrid system boosting the TS050 Hybrid into the 8MJ subclass.

Energy from the front and rear motor-generators is now stored in a lithium-ion battery. Other new updates include revisions to the gearbox and the aerodynamic package.

Toyota had already revealed its new colour scheme, it’s just a shame it is so similar to both Audi and Porsche. More colour, please! Less grey, white and red; more variety.

The No.5 car will be piloted by Anthony Davidson, Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima, while Kamui Kobayashi, Stephane Sarrazin and Mike Conway will drive the No.6.

Which is your favourite LMP1 car for the FIA WEC season? It looks set to be a good year for the series! Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Comments

I think the Audi is the best looking of the three

Honestly all the LMP1 cars looks extremely similar. Now I do agree with you that the Audi looks slightly better but they are all so similar at a glance.

I thought Porsche at first but once I started to compare the details I realized the Audi look like it’s at least one generation ahead of the Porsche.

Nice to see kobayashi back in a race car

Can’t wait till the 7th of May. Going to see WEC at Spa-Francorchamps for the third time :D

TAKE PICTURES

Should really change its colour - I think the WEC should tell the big teams to pick a different/unique colour from eachother. None of these liveries will look unique/recognisable at 200mph down Mulsanne at midnight.

Legendary LM cars/liveries can be recognised in a couple of colours. Orange/Green, Purple/White, Blue/Orange. Describe the new ones?
Toyota? Black, white and red. Porsche? Black, white and red. Audi?….Black, grey and red…

It will be nearly impossible to tell them apart during a race. Porsche should go back to Martini colors and Toyota should go back to blue. Audi doesn’t really have an alternative though.