The first thing that came to mind upon viewing the videos of Toyota's brand-new TS030 Hybrid Le Mans Racer as it was leaving the pits at the Paul Ricard circuit in France for its first test run was the Batmobile – well, that or Anakin Skywalker's podracer from Star Wars Episode 1.And no, we're not referring to the racecar's shape and styling but the sounds emitted by the hybrid powertrain which starts off with the electric motor before the V8 engine kicks in like an afterburner – yes, it's that cool.
After that, you get the usual screaming sounds produced by race-prepped engines.
Toyota's racing team is still developing the TS030 Hybrid as it has yet to decide whether it will combine the all-new 3.4-litre normally-aspirated V8 petrol engine with an electric motor from Aisin AW powering the front wheels or an electric motor from DENSO driving the rear axle (regulations stipulate that electric motors can only power two wheels).
The TS030 Hybrid will make its racing debut on May 5 in the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps for the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
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