TOYOTA RACING UNVEILS 2012 LE MANS CHALLENGER

TS030 HYBRID cars

Toyota is the first manufacturer to confirm its participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship using a hybrid system and thereby announcing more details of its forthcoming FIA World Endurance Championship participation, including an intention to race two cars in specific races.
The new team, which is based at Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) in Cologne, Germany, will make its race debut on 5 May in the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Toyota Racing intends to enter two TS030 HYBRID cars in the subsequent Le Mans 24 Hours (16-17 June) with a driver line-up of Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima for one car with Andrea Caldarelli as a junior driver, while for its second car the slots havent't been filled yet and negotiations are on though 30-year-old Japanese driver Hiroaki Ishiura is an intending canditate.
The THS-R (Toyota Hybrid System – Racing) powertrain features an all-new V8 3.4litre normally-aspirated petrol engine and hybrid system with capacitor storage developed by official team partner Nisshinbo, front motor system produced by Aisin AW, a rear motor system developed by official team partner DENSO and a  brand new carbon fibre LMP1 chassis developed and produced at TMG.
Official partners to the Toyota Racing programme include ZENT, Aisin, Nippon Steel, Takata, Toyoda Gosei and Michelin.

Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Team President: "Of course we would love to win Le Mans; that is the dream for all competitors in this race. But we are realistic and we know we need to develop and to learn in order to compete with some very strong competition. Our target this year is to show the performance level of our car and particularly the THS-R powertrain. Hybrid is a core technology of Toyota so it is important to demonstrate this in a motorsport arena and we want to prove it can bring a performance advantage, both in terms of lap time and fuel efficiency. Everyone involved in designing, developing and preparing the car – both at TMG and at Motor Sport Division in Japan – has worked incredibly hard to reach this point and we are all very excited to be back on the race track again."

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Scion FR-S drift car

Scion FR-S

The FR-S – which stands for Front-engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport is the outcome of a major partnership between Scion Racing and GReddy, will feature in the 2012 Formula DRIFT array with maestro motorist Ken Gushi.

Inspired by a AE86 Toyota Corolla, a FR-S is written around a core thought of achieving “Pure Balance,” which starts with a vital operate of a world’s usually prosaic fighter engine in a front-engine, rear-wheel expostulate configuration. 

The FR-S's 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine is the result of a joint development between Toyota and Subaru. The partnership begins by combining Subaru's newly developed horizontally opposed engine and Toyota's cutting-edge D-4S injection system, which incorporates both direct and port injection.  The D-4S system, partnered with a high 12.5:1 compression ratio, results in an impressive 200 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. 

Scion FR-S rear view

The flat-four mates with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. The manual offers quick, precise shifts with a short-throw; while the automatic transmission features aggressive up shifts and sporty rev-matched down shifts that are initiated by steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.  Power is transferred to the pavement via a limited-slip differential.   

The FR-S's interior features a 2+2 seating configuration that is designed with both form and function in mind. The front seats are mounted extremely low and are comfortable yet assertive, while the rear seat folds down flat, creating flexible space. The large center-mounted tachometer is the focus of the three-gauge cluster, keeping the driver informed of the engine's vitals. Speed is monitored by both digital and analog gauges.

Specs: 
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• Dimensions:   166.7 in. *  69.9 in
• Height  : 51.2 in.
• Wheelbase : 101.2 in.
• Total displacement : 1,998 cc
• Type :Horizontally opposed four-cylinder, D-4S injection, DOHC
• Bore × stroke : 86 × 86 mm.
• Maximum output : 200hp @ 7,000 rpm
• Maximum torque  151 lb.-ft. @ 6,600 rpm
• Transmission   6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters
• Driveline : Rear-wheel drive
• Suspension: Front-MacPherson struts & Rear-Double wishbone
• Brakes : Ventilated Discs
• Tires :   215/45R17
• Fuel tank:   13.2 gallons

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BAC Mono Single Seat Race Car

BAC Mono

Price: $130,000

Sector111 LLC, a California based company that specializes in aftermarket performance parts and service for the Lotus Elise and Exige and the Ariel Atom, has been named the exclusive U.S. importer of the Limited edition BAC Mono single-seater race car

The BAC Mono is a brutal single-seater race car designed to bring formula racing levels of handling and performance to the street and is powered by a mid-mounted naturally aspirated 2.3-liter Cosworth engine pushing out 280-horsepower to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential transmission and a limited-slip differential. The single-seater model weighs in at just 540 kg (1,190 lbs)courtesy of its carbon-fiber body and the minimalistic engineering approach.  The Mono’s power to weight ratio stands at 520 hp/tonne

According to the British company, the Mono passes the 0 to 60mph [96km/h] yardstick just 2.8 seconds after takeoff, and the 100 mph (160km/h) mark after 6.7 seconds, while its top speed is 170 mph (274 km/h).

The car’s aerodynamics were optimized in partnership with the Stuttgart University and all of the mechanical components come from established motorsport companies.
The Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) said it will build 50 to 100 cars a year,  and only just  just 12 units will be offered in U.S.

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[Source: BAC Mono]

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