More snippets from this afternoon’s press briefing featuring technical representatives from each of the three current factory LMP1 teams.
Toyota
The 2015 Toyota TS050 will feature a smaller turbo engine (over 2 litres in capacity) and battery based hybrid system aimed at the 8 mJ bracket with the programme described by Technical Director Pascal Vasselon as “very late but on target”.
That seemingly contradictory statement refers to the fact that Toyota only made the decision not to stay with their current powertrain into 2016 at Le Mans this year (this the “late” aspect of the statement) giving the team a very tight programme to develop the proposed replacement. That said the programme is currently on track for a first run hoped for some time in January.
Vasselon also confirmed that Toyota have evaluated their 2015 programme and have concluded that their “mistake” albeit budgetary enforced, was to choose certain aspects of their 2-014 package to comprehensively enhance rather than attending to the full package (as both Audi and Porsche did!).
Audi
Chris Reinke stated in the briefing that Audi Sport intend to return in 2016 to win the Manufacturers Championship, a rare positive statement of late on the team’s intent to return and the most concrete proof thus far that the LMP1 Programme is not at immediate risk.
Reinke also said that Audi would have “more to announce in around 10 days time” doubtless a reference to the post season annual Audi celebration where the year’s achievements are celebrated, and important announcements have been made in previous years.
It has been though highly unusual to trail such announcements!
Porsche
As planned, and perhaps unsurprisingly, Porsche plan an evolution, albeit a highly detailed one, of the star car of 2015 the 919 Hybrid.
Alex Hitzinger agreed with his two rivals that the key to the massive progress in LMP1 development and performance was down to a comprehensive plan of evolution. Tyres, aero, packaging and, in particular, powertrain.
