Toyota TS010
Encyclopedia
The Toyota TS010 was a Group C
racing car built by Toyota for the Sportscar World Championship
, All Japan Sports Prototype Championship
, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans
.
for 1992, Toyota was forced to replace their previous series of Group C
sportscars, known as C-V, which used the R36V 3.6L twin turbocharged V8. The new rules required a standardized 3.5L naturally aspirated V10. Thus in 1991 Toyota completed their RV10 engines and began early testing.
Due to the change in engines, a whole new chassis was also necessary in order to better handle the new V10. Former Tom Walkinshaw Racing
designer Tony Southgate
was in charge of designing the car that became the TS010, featuring a more aerodynamic and longer body then the C-V series of sportscars. TS010 #002 would be completed towards the end of 1991, and Toyota chose to debut the car at the final round of the 1991 WSC season at Autopolis
. The car, driven by Britons Geoff Lees
and Andy Wallace and run by half English, half Japanese squad Tom's
, finished 6th overall, only three laps behind the winning Mercedes-Benz
.
For the start of the 1992 season, Toyota's main competitors came in the form of the Peugeot 905
, which had been launched late in 1990. At the start of the season in Monza, four chassis had been completed. Toyota chose to run two cars while a third spare car would run in practice only to help the team prepare for the races. At Monza, Toyota was able to secure its first victory after the leading Peugeot crashed out, with chassis #002 being among the few cars to finish the rain-soaked race in the hands of Geoff Lees
and Hitoshi Ogawa. However, TS010 #004 was badly damaged in an accident early in the race.
At the second round of the season, both TS010's failed to finish due to problems. However at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
, with the completion of fresh chassis #005 and #006, Toyota entered three cars in the event. Two were able to finish, with one taking 2nd place, 6 laps behind the winning Peugeot. The other finisher managed 8th overall.
For the next two races at Donington Park
and Toyota's home race at Suzuka Circuit
, the TS010 was only able to finish behind the dominating Peugeots, each time having the second TS010 failing to finish. At the final round at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
, both TS010s would finish, taking 3rd and 4th behind Peugeot once again. With the season over, Toyota would take 2nd in the teams championship, although they only managed to earn approximately half the points that Peugeot won.
After the race at Suzuka, Toyota left a single TS010 in Japan to compete in the final two rounds of the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship
. The TS010 took victory at Fuji Speedway
, then was joined by a second TS010 after the World Sportscar Championship
had ended. The team took 1st and 4th, defeating factory efforts from Nissan and Mazda
. These two wins secured Toyota a manufacturer's championship in the Group C
category in JSPC.
For 1993, both the World Sportscar Championship and All Japan Sports Prototype Championships were cancelled, leaving the TS010s with nowhere to race except at that year's 24 Hours of Le Mans
. For the race, another three chassis would be built specifically for this race, numbered #007, #008, and #009. Future Formula One driver Eddie Irvine
, Masanori Sekiya
, and Toshio Suzuki would bring a TS010 home in 4th overall, behind the trio of Peugeot
s. A second TS010 would take 8th, while the third car failed to finish. Following this race, with no place to compete, the TS010 was officially retired and Toyota concentrated on their IMSA
efforts in the United States
.
Group C
Group C was a category of motorsport, introduced by the FIA in 1982 for sports car racing, along with Group A for touring cars and Group B for GTs....
racing car built by Toyota for the Sportscar World Championship
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
, All Japan Sports Prototype Championship
All Japan Sports Prototype Championship
The , abbreviated as JSPC, formed by the Japanese Automobile Federation, was a domestic championship which took place in Japan for Group C and IMSA GTP prototype cars and also featured cars that were eligible for touring car racing in its earlier years...
, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
.
History
Due to rule changes in the World Sportscar ChampionshipWorld Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
for 1992, Toyota was forced to replace their previous series of Group C
Group C
Group C was a category of motorsport, introduced by the FIA in 1982 for sports car racing, along with Group A for touring cars and Group B for GTs....
sportscars, known as C-V, which used the R36V 3.6L twin turbocharged V8. The new rules required a standardized 3.5L naturally aspirated V10. Thus in 1991 Toyota completed their RV10 engines and began early testing.
Due to the change in engines, a whole new chassis was also necessary in order to better handle the new V10. Former Tom Walkinshaw Racing
Tom Walkinshaw Racing
Tom Walkinshaw Racing , was an auto racing team and engineering firm founded in 1976 by touring car racer Tom Walkinshaw.-History:TWR started by modifying BMW 3.0 CSLs, but soon was contracted to head Mazda's works program in the British Touring Car Championship. The TWR developed RX-7, with Win...
designer Tony Southgate
Tony Southgate
Tony Southgate is a British engineer and former racing car designer. He designed many successful cars, including Jaguar's Le Mans-winning XJR-9, and cars for almost every type of circuit racing. He was responsible for the chassis design of Ford's RS200 Group B rally car...
was in charge of designing the car that became the TS010, featuring a more aerodynamic and longer body then the C-V series of sportscars. TS010 #002 would be completed towards the end of 1991, and Toyota chose to debut the car at the final round of the 1991 WSC season at Autopolis
Autopolis
Autopolis is an international racing circuit located near Kamitsue village in Ōita Prefecture, Japan . Opened in 1990, it hosts a range of domestic and international motorsport events throughout the year. Although the track meets a high standard in terms of its facilities, it has never hosted a...
. The car, driven by Britons Geoff Lees
Geoff Lees
Geoffrey Lees is a former racing driver from England. He participated in 12 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 16 July 1978. He scored no championship points.-Career:...
and Andy Wallace and run by half English, half Japanese squad Tom's
TOM'S
is a factory supported racing team and tuner of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The name stands for Tachi Oiwa Motor Sport. Their head office is located in Tokyo, Japan. They are currently heavily involved with Super GT racing and Formula 3 racing...
, finished 6th overall, only three laps behind the winning Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
.
For the start of the 1992 season, Toyota's main competitors came in the form of the Peugeot 905
Peugeot 905
The Peugeot 905 is a Sports-prototype racing car introduced for Sportscar racing.The car was initially unveiled in February 1990 and was developed throughout 1990 before making its race debut in the final two races of the 1990 World Sportscar Championship season .The car won the 24 Hours of Le Mans...
, which had been launched late in 1990. At the start of the season in Monza, four chassis had been completed. Toyota chose to run two cars while a third spare car would run in practice only to help the team prepare for the races. At Monza, Toyota was able to secure its first victory after the leading Peugeot crashed out, with chassis #002 being among the few cars to finish the rain-soaked race in the hands of Geoff Lees
Geoff Lees
Geoffrey Lees is a former racing driver from England. He participated in 12 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 16 July 1978. He scored no championship points.-Career:...
and Hitoshi Ogawa. However, TS010 #004 was badly damaged in an accident early in the race.
At the second round of the season, both TS010's failed to finish due to problems. However at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1992 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 60th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 20 and 21 1992. It was also the third round of the Sportscar World Championship...
, with the completion of fresh chassis #005 and #006, Toyota entered three cars in the event. Two were able to finish, with one taking 2nd place, 6 laps behind the winning Peugeot. The other finisher managed 8th overall.
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
and Toyota's home race at Suzuka Circuit
Suzuka Circuit
, Suzuka Circuit for short, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, the subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..-Introduction:...
, the TS010 was only able to finish behind the dominating Peugeots, each time having the second TS010 failing to finish. At the final round at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours is a motor racing circuit located in central France, near the towns of Magny-Cours and Nevers, some 250 km from Paris...
, both TS010s would finish, taking 3rd and 4th behind Peugeot once again. With the season over, Toyota would take 2nd in the teams championship, although they only managed to earn approximately half the points that Peugeot won.
After the race at Suzuka, Toyota left a single TS010 in Japan to compete in the final two rounds of the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship
All Japan Sports Prototype Championship
The , abbreviated as JSPC, formed by the Japanese Automobile Federation, was a domestic championship which took place in Japan for Group C and IMSA GTP prototype cars and also featured cars that were eligible for touring car racing in its earlier years...
. The TS010 took victory at Fuji Speedway
Fuji Speedway
is a race track standing in the foothills of Mount Fuji, in Oyama, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the early 1960s and hosted the first Formula One race in Japan in 1976. In the 1980s, Fuji Speedway was used for the FIA World Sportscar Championship and national racing...
, then was joined by a second TS010 after the World Sportscar Championship
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
had ended. The team took 1st and 4th, defeating factory efforts from Nissan and Mazda
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
. These two wins secured Toyota a manufacturer's championship in the Group C
Group C
Group C was a category of motorsport, introduced by the FIA in 1982 for sports car racing, along with Group A for touring cars and Group B for GTs....
category in JSPC.
For 1993, both the World Sportscar Championship and All Japan Sports Prototype Championships were cancelled, leaving the TS010s with nowhere to race except at that year's 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
. For the race, another three chassis would be built specifically for this race, numbered #007, #008, and #009. Future Formula One driver Eddie Irvine
Eddie Irvine
Edmund "Eddie" Irvine, Jr. is a former racing driver from Northern Ireland. He grew up in Conlig, County Down, and was influenced by his parents, who were also involved in motor racing...
, Masanori Sekiya
Masanori Sekiya
is a racing car driver from Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, most famous for being the first Japanese driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1995.Sekiya drove in single-seaters in his early career, contesting the Japanese Formula 3000 Championship and Formula Nippon from 1987 to 1993, mostly for the...
, and Toshio Suzuki would bring a TS010 home in 4th overall, behind the trio of Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
s. A second TS010 would take 8th, while the third car failed to finish. Following this race, with no place to compete, the TS010 was officially retired and Toyota concentrated on their IMSA
International Motor Sports Association
The International Motor Sports Association is an American sports car auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton, Georgia. It was started by John Bishop, a former employee of SCCA , and his wife Peggy in 1969 with help from Bill France, Sr...
efforts in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.