Toyota Preparing for the Le Mans in 2012

Toyota has announced that it is returning to the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile’s World Endurance Championship in 2012.  it will participate in several races with a  prototype”LMP1″ car featuring a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain. Further details of the participation, such as team name, drivers and participating races, will be disclosed soon. We are hoping the experience will lead to exciting future models under the Prius range.

The last time Toyota competed in Le Mans racing was in 1999, just before switching its focus from GT-One focus to Formula One.

We don’t expect Toyota’s new LMP1 racer to have anything in common with the GT-One, never finished a full race it was powered by a 600-horsepower 3.6-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. There is no question, however that is was fast. There are hopes that this generation will be more consistant.

Take a look at what’s going on in Toyota News, courtesy of O’brien Auto Group and ToyotaBloggers.com! Be sure to check out O’brien Automotive Group for all of the newest incentives on the exciting new vehicles.

Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrid, Toyota, Racing