Toyota GR Super Sport Hypercar first public debut at 88th Le Mans

KUALA LUMPUR: Over the years, Toyota has teased and passed on several hints about the upcoming GR Super Sport Hypercrar - showed as a concept in 2018 and the first teaser video released in 2019. However, it never showed the car in metal, but this time things changed, as the Japanese automaker chose the perfect spot for its upcoming sports car's first public appearance - the 88th Le Mans 24 Hours at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

In a convertible body frame, the development model of the GR Super Sport did a demonstration lap around the track. It was driven by Alex Wura, the former Toyota Gazoo driver. Not to forget, the Toyota Gazzo Racing team won its third consecutive Le Mans 24 Hours title with the TS050 Hybrid.

The good news is that GR Super Sport will not be limited to the future Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) races, with its street-going version planned to arrive at some point. Though details about it are limited at the moment.

Coming to the track version, the GR Super Sport is based on the TS050 Hybrid race car that won Le Mans twice in 2018 and 2019. As mentioned, Toyota's upcoming hypercar is destined to take racing engineering from track to road.

Toyota has not shared much technical information about the GR Super Sport, but in 2018 it did say that the car's main parts will mostly be the same as the TS050 Hybrid. Speaking of which, the TS050 uses a mid-mounted 2.4-litre twin-turbo V6 hybrid engine along with an electric motor, together the two make 986 hp.

The World Endurance Championship calendar for 2020 was scrambled due to the pandemic. As for 2021, there will be six events instead of eight. However, according to FIA, the schedule could change again, depending on the pandemic crisis. Whatever might be the case, we know that Toyota is ready to hit the track.

Note, as per the new 2020-2021 hypercar regulations by the World Endurance Championship, Toyota must manufacture at least 20 units of the GR Super Sport.

Also Read: 2021 Toyota GR Supra: First impression