Toyota and Peugeot get into the hypercar business

Wednesday, 23 September 2020

Toyota debuted its all-new GR Super Sport hypercar at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Toyota not only recently won its third-straight 24 Hours of Le Mans title; it also showed its commitment to future endurance racing technical regulations.

Just prior to the start of the 2020 race there was a demonstration lap of the Le Mans circuit by a development version of the Toyota GR (Gazoo Racing) Super Sport.

The prototype – driven by two-time Le Mans winner Alex Wurz - was seen for the first time with a customised convertible body style and wrapped in GR camouflage livery.

The GR Super Sport will not only form the basis of Toyota’s endurance racing assault, it will also be a road-going hypercar.

Toyota was the first major manufacturer to commit to new Le Mans “HyperCar” regulations which will bring the top class of Le Mans and FIA World Endurance Championship closer to a road-going super car specification.

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The GR Super Sport will use elements from the TS050 racing car’s powertrain and AWD system.

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Peugeot is getting into the HyperCar category as well, with its effort debuting in 2022.

The GR Super Sport retains a link to the now three-time Le Mans-winning Toyota TS050 Hybrid race car, sharing elements of the hybrid powertrain and all-wheel-drive system.

“It was an honour to drive this development version of the GR Super Sport for the first time in public, and especially at a circuit like Le Mans which is so closely connected to this car,’’ Wurz said.

“The GR Super Sport was born at Le Mans so this felt like a homecoming. This was my first time to drive the car, so a demonstration lap doesn’t allow me to push the limits but I could already feel that the GR Super Sport has the potential for incredible performance.

“I could feel the similarities between the GR Super Sport and the TS050 Hybrid in terms of performance, particularly the four-wheel drive and the hybrid system.

“But the engineers tell me this was only a small taste of the GR Super Sport’s true performance, so I am super excited to drive it again one day in the near future.”

The new regulations received an important boost at Le Mans last week with confirmation that Peugeot Sport is also preparing a “HyperCar’’ contender, expected to debut in 2022.

Peugeot and programme partner Total revealed design images of the car and early details of the endurance campaign.

“We have confirmed part of the aerodynamic concept, the engine framework has been decided and we have chosen the functionality of the hybrid system and its fundamental design,’’ said Olivier Jansonnie, Peugeot Sport WEC technical director.

“We still have several steps left before our debut in endurance in 2022.’’

Peugeot says the car will have a 200kW electric hybrid system providing the front-axle component of its all-wheel-drive system.