DSC caught up with a number of those directly involved in the current machinations over the forthcoming 2020/21 ‘Hypercar’ regulations in the past few weeks. The aim here was to try to find out from them directly where things stand over progress, and otherwise, in the process to develop and deliver the next set of regulations that will define a top class for the 2020/21 FIA World Endurance Championship and the 2021, Le Mans 24 Hours.
First up Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Director and TMG Vice President Rob Leupen, a man who has been at the leading edge of Toyota’s WEC programme from the very start, and who in 2020 will celebrate a quarter of a century at Toyota Motorsport Gmbh.
First up Rob let’s talk about the ongoing controversy over what many would say is an Equivalence of Technology that unfairly favours Toyota?
“We want to have competition, on the other side though we have always considered Le Mans as a technology workshop and here we have requested a fair regulation based on the technology we have produced, we want to showcase what a hybrid car is able to do. If this platform was to be taken away then it would be difficult for us to stay.
We want to have competition, on the other side though we have always considered Le Mans as a technology workshop and here we have requested a fair regulation based on the technology we have produced
“It’s difficult to balance our car. I should say EoT but for me it is more of a balance, I think also that they have started a project that you cannot fulfil totally, it’s not just the technology you put on the track, its about the resource, the experience of the team, of full-time professionals building a complex car specifically designed to achieve a mega lap time at Le Mans. Balancing against that is very difficult.”
Moving on to the future Rob, you’ve been at the core of discussions over the next set of regulations, but I sense there is growing frustration?
“We need to have in the next one or two weeks to have a solution in place otherwise it would be too late for us to commit to anything beyond June 2020.
“I have a lot of faith, especially on Pascal’s (Vasselon, TMG Technical Director) front where there are still a lot of constructive talks going on. I hope and believe that they will come up with something solid for the long-term future.
“We have been deeply involved in the regulations and we have known them until the end of last year, in December.
“Since then a lot of things changed, I cannot confirm that we are very happy about this but on the other side, the more the merrier. We don’t want to drive alone, and we don’t want to drive as we do today with a lot of frustration on the privateers side. We want to have real competition with privateers or preferably with manufacturers also.
“From my point of view the clock is ticking, and yes we would have confirmed long-term if everything had been done, it isn’t! So no confirmation.”
So exactly what route would Toyota like to take?
“Toyota launched a GR Sports concept car at Le Mans. This is the long-term vision that besides an R&D basis for the programme we get a marketing basis too. This is something that we really want to see happening here.”
Is any of your unhappiness to do with the fact that Toyota was not in the room for the discussion about bringing road car-based hypercars into the scope of the regulations?
“I don’t think we had to be in that room, it wasn’t our place. And if they are able to come up with a solution where both can go, a road car and a prototype and however you want to balance that, we don’t care, as we have said repeatedly we just want to have competition.
We have said that we don’t want to field a road car, we want to go with a prototype
“We have said that we don’t want to field a road car, we want to go with a prototype, and I think that’s the most cost-efficient way too, and the best way to make it safe, for now, that is not our problem.
“We just want to have a clear set of rules that we take back to Japan and say “Gentlemen, this is what they propose, can we proceed?”
And if I were to press you for a clear and simple message where Toyota currently stand?
“A lot of hopes, but some clear concerns”
