TBK-Light.com

Stream dies on the final lap. On the fucking final lap.

We're hearing noise out of Toyota to expect an announcement regarding the LMP1 program within the month. We're told to expect an announced assault on Le Mans for 2013. This certainly is welcome news. The Toyota Le Mans preparation is one of the worst kept secrets in motorsports. Especially considering all the motorsports personnel who were called back to beaver away on projects unknown. Ultimately the timing seems a bit odd considering the changing regulations coming on line for 2014 and all the effort that has already gone into this project to date. Surely Toyota would be ready for 2012? On 2012 there seems to be some ambiguity for now. Regardless, Toyota is coming. No technical details are forthcoming. More when/if we hear.

Following on today's Autosport print edition's report that the Aston Martin AMR-One project has been, "abandoned," it's actually our understanding the AMR-Ones have sat untouched in the Prodrive shops since Le Mans. Basically wheeled there and covered up. Thus the decision to abandon the project seems to have been made as many as four months ago! We're also hearing that the much maligned Aston Martin engines weren't necessarily the source of the program's angst. The engine program did suffer from a very delayed and short development program. So delayed, the engine only just ran on the dyno the month before the first track test. And priority was given to producing engines for the race team, not development. Thus engine teething problems went unaddressed. But we're told that fundamentally the engine was solid. That leaves the chassis. We're told the CFD-only developed AMR-One (known internally as the R-17) suffered from very high drag and little downforce. Mechanically the car produced good grip and was the sole source of joy for the drivers. The car's aerodynamic deficit apparently only came to light following a coast down test in late April.

suffered from very high drag and little downforce.

Pretty sure any of us on this forum could have told them that. It's almost like they never bothered looking at it whilst designing it. I'm picturing the Simpsons episode where Herb lets Homer design a car and doesn't look at it before launch.

I think that article is wrong saying the MP4-12C will be at Le Mans... there is the GT3 model but no GTE?

We've received updated information about Toyota's imminent LMP announcement and are now hearing the car will be racing as soon as next year. Where (Le Mans, WEC), and when specifically, we don't know. We also understand that, as reported before, the announcement will be made soon.

Now, it is expected that the ACO will release their 2014 regulations next month. Could Toyota's announcement coincide with the timing of the ACO's regulations release and the release of the World Endurance Championship calendar? Something to think about.