Toyota hybrid technology takes World Endurance Championship

Tokyo, Japan – Toyota Racing won both the Manufacturers and the Drivers categories of the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), a series of eight endurance races, including the renowned Le Mans 24 Hours event, held on international road racing circuits.

 

The WEC is one of the five major classes of automotive competition sanctioned by the Federation International de l'Automobile (FIA).

 

After winning several WRC titles Toyota first entered the re-established WEC series in 2012, where the strong competition included Audi and, this year, Porsche. Having won five of the eight races in 2014 Toyota Racing secured the WEC Manufacturers and Drivers titles.

 

Toyota launched its first hybrid car, the Prius, in 1997. Since then, Toyota's hybrid system has continued to evolve as a state-of-the-art, energy efficient yet powerful source of automotive propulsion.

 

To prepare for its entry in the WEC the Toyota Hybrid System Racing (THS-R) was mounted in the various cars and developed further in Japanese races. The decision to improve the technology through racing was in keeping with Toyota's philosophy of pursuing perfection through competition. Expectations and confidence were high but still had to pass the supreme test.

 

Toyota's crowning achievement in 2014 took place at the final race in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The championships were won using the same hybrid technology available in Toyota production vehicles.