The Professional Motorsport World Expo wrapped up today in Cologne, Germany, and the unique hybrid system in the Toyota TS030 Le Mans prototype car was named Powertrain Innovation of the Year by a panel of racing experts — serving notice that electricity will continue increasing its presence alongside fossil fuels in today’s high-end racecars.
The TS030 was also named Racecar of the Year at the Expo, following its three victories in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Brazil, Japan and China. The TS030, however, is probably best known for its aerial acrobatics at Le Mans (see Le Mans feature video below).
“To develop both a power system and a car at the same time, and achieve success with it against very stiff and proven competition, is a remarkable accomplishment,” says Mark Raffauf, managing director of racing operations for Grand-Am and one of the awards judges.
Code-named THS-R for Toyota Hybrid System – Racing, the hybrid system combines a 530-horsepower 3.4-liter normally aspirated gasoline V8 with a 300-horsepower Denso hybrid motor located in the rear 6-speed gearbox. Supplying the juice is a Nisshinbo supercapacitor, not batteries, that stores energy from the car’s regenerative braking system. Toyota has the option of adding a motor to the front wheels, but the rules are more restrictive with regards to the speeds that electrical power can be applied. By going with rear-wheel-drive only, the team can use electrical power at any speed.
To get a feel of how the car utilizes both powertrains, check out this video of the car leaving the pit on electric power only, then the gas engine kicks in.
As mentioned earlier, one of the two TS030 cars crashed spectacularly at Le Mans. The other dropped out following mechanical problems. A hybrid, however, did win the race. The Audi R18 e-tron features a turbo-diesel V6 powering the rear wheels mated with an electric motor powering the front wheels.
Formula 1 is applying more green technology to its cars, and the FIA recently approved a Formula E electric racecar series. Even high-end production sports cars are offering hybrid drive systems. The successor to the Ferrari Enzo supercar will have a hybrid powertrain. Despite its critics, electric-motor technology will be in motorsports for the long haul.