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The Toyota TS040 Hybrid is a racing car developed for the 2014 Le Mans Prototype rules. The car is the direct successor to the Toyota TS030 Hybrid that ran in the 2012 and 2013 FIA World Endurance.
During the 2013 WEC season, Toyota announced that it would continue racing in the 2014 WEC and would thus develop a new LMP1 car for the 2014 Le Mans Prototype regulations. More details were revealed by Toyota Racing technical director Pascal Vasselon at the WEC Sao Paulo round on August 31. The TS040 would continue to use a naturally-aspirated V8 engine with a supercapacitor system mounted on the rear axle. The 2014 car, however, would have an additional supercapacitor system on the front axle to allow it to use temporary four-wheel drive. The car was officially unveiled on March 27, 2014.
The 2014 season started with the 6 Hours of Silverstone and the first race of the new LMP1-H rules. Toyota and Audi both brought new cars and were joined by the returning Porsche. In qualifying, the No. 7 Toyota took pole position with a combined time of 01:44.774 in the hands of Alex Wurz and Kazuki Nakajima, only 0.005s ahead of the second placed Audi. In the race, the No. 8 Toyota took the victory with the No. 7 in 2nd after the race was shortened 26 minutes from the end due to heavy rain. It was the team's first 1-2 finish in the WEC.
At the second round of the championship, the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the TS040s qualified 2nd and 4th in damp conditions with the No. 8 and No. 7 respectively. In the race, the No. 8 took Toyota's second win of the season with a margin of 01:13 and the No. 7 finished 3rd. The No. 8 car also scored the fastest lap of the race in the hands of Anthony Davidson with a time of 02:01.327.
At the official test day for the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 1 June, the Toyotas were fastest, placing first and second on the overall time sheets.
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