Toyota announce Kobayashi as test driver and continuation in 6MJ sub-class

The defending champions have also confirmed that former Sauber F1 driver Kamui Kobayashi will be their official test and reserve driver for 2015. 

This year’s Toyota LMP1 Hybrid car will defend the LMP1 title with a design that is 80%. Significant aerodynamic upgrades can be seen on the car after a lengthy development programme at their renowned wind tunnel in Cologne. 

“We are the hunted now and not the hunters,” said Leupen. “We evaluated the 8MJ sub-class option but decided to go with what we ran last year. We took in to account all the aspects including weight, fuel consumption, management strategies, etc so we eventually decided on the 6MJ rather 8. Next year we will target the 8MJ class after all the aspects we will learn again from running this year. There will be some great battles I am sure.

Leupen also spoke about Toyota’s attraction to competing in the FIA WEC and how it fits in with the companies technical and sporting objectives.

“The charm of the FIA WEC is that we can commit with this interesting technology in a very interesting a challenging set of rules. We see it as an interesting engineering programme that you just don’t get in any other series.

Leupen also joked about Toyota’s ‘three home races’ in 2015, saying: “We have Spa which is just down the road from the factory, we have Fuji and now we have Nürburgring, so we will have more fantastic support from our fans and workers at the Cologne TMG base this year. It is a very nice calendar and we cannot wait to go racing.”

An extensive test program over the winter has been carried by Toyota out at Portimao, Motorland Aragon, Paul Ricard. The reigning World Champions will run numbers 1 and 2 throughout the 2015 FIA WEC season.