Toyota reveals hybrid race car which will take on Porsche and Audi at Le Mans

Toyota unveiled its new TS040 Hybrid sports car which will participate in the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship. The car was revealed at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France. The revised design integrates a hybrid all-wheel-drive system that is rated at 513 horsepower, along with a 3.7-liter V8 petrol engine that brings the total maximum power up to 986 ponies.

The V8 engine has been manufactured at the Higasfuji Technical Centre, where Toyota also develops its next generation road car technology. The new power-train has been developed in line with revised WEC technical regulations, which puts emphasis on fuel economy.

Teams are required to use 25% less fuel than in 2013, with savings achieved through changes to powertrains, aerodynamics and driving style. Engineers are also said to be given more design flexibility in other areas, enabling Toyota to bring a significant increase in hybrid power with motors on both the front and rear axles.

Toyota racing will bring two cars to this race and the drivers include Alex Wurz, Stephane Sarrazin and Kazuki Nakajima sharing car No. 7 and Anthony Davidson, Nicolas Lapierre and Sebastien Buemi piloting car No. 8.

Toyota will begin its official championship test session today, prior to making its competition debut at the season-opening six hours of Silverstone race on 20th April.

2014 FIA World Endurance Championship Calendar:

20 April Six Hours of Silverstone (GB)

3 May Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (Bel)

14 June Le Mans 24 Hours (Fra)

20 September Six Hours of Circuit of the Americas (USA)

12 October Six Hours of Fuji (Jpn)

2 November Six Hours of Shanghai (Chi)

15 November Six Hours of Bahrain

30 November Six Hours of Sao Paulo (Bra)