Toyota PR tweet reveals 2012 LMP1 Hybrid racer

While the world was discussing Peugeot’s sudden withdrawal from Le Mans racing, Scott Brownlee from Toyota PR cheekily revealed the first pics (above) of Toyota’s LMP1 Hybrid via twitter. “Sorry to see Peugeot pull out of Le Mans for 2012. Maybe the mere sight of our new car scared them,” he said.

Last October Toyota Motorsport GmbH, based in Cologne, announced they would be competing in the 2012 Le Mans 24 hour race, as well as the 2012 World Endurance Championship.

TMG Chairman, Tadashi Yamashina, said: “Toyota Motor Corporation has entered Le Mans before but by using our hybrid technology this time will be a completely new challenge. We want to write a new page in the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours, as well as in the FIA World Endurance Championship, through our use of hybrid technology.

“In addition, we aim to learn from the experience of competing in such a challenging motorsport environment to enhance our production car technology. Le Mans is a legendary race and I would like to thank the ACO and the FIA for their constructive and positive cooperation over the last few months.”

Brownlee added further info, and challenged Le Mans favourites Audi, this morning when he tweeted, “Next week first official test with our new car #dieselkiller can’t wait”

So, maybe Le Mans 2012 (16–17 June) won’t be the one horse race we think it will.