TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, the motorsports division of Toyota Motor Corporation, won the 87th Le Mans 24 Hours with a one-two finish, making Toyota the first Japanese automaker to have won the Le Mans twice with a self-charging hybrid electric vehicle- the Toyota TS050. The 87th 24 Hours of Le Mans is an Automobile Endurance event that took place on 15–16 June 2019, at the Circuit de la Sarthe at Le Mans, France. One of the most challenging endurance races in the world, 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world’s oldest active sports car race in enduring racing.
The self-charging hybrid electric vehicle, Toyota TS050 driven at the endurance event this year, has been further improved with a 1000 hp hybrid electric powertrain and mounted on the car to strengthen its reliability. Driving the 1000PS TS050, Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Fernando Alonso defended their Le Mans crown and secured the drivers’ World Championship in the process. Also driving the TS050, Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López bagged the second place in the race.
Commenting on Toyota’s win, Mr. Masakazu Yoshimura, Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “Toyota self-charging hybrid electric vehicles have not only proved their performance on the roads but also on the tracks. Toyota’s recent win at Le Mans stands true testimony to that and further reiterates our position as the world leader in self-charging hybrid electric technology. Thanks to the combination of a responsive petrol engine and powerful electric motor, Toyota self-charging hybrid electric vehicles are not just cleaner and efficient but also torque-full to drive and more economical. This ‘fun to drive’ aspect of our self-charging hybrid electric vehicles is further resonated by the acceptance we have received from our customers all over the world.”
