Toyota Gt-One
From [[Gran Turismo Wiki]], the up-and-coming encyclopedia of the Real Driving Simulator that [[Help:Editing|anyone can edit]]
The Toyota GT-One (Toyota codename: TS020) was Toyota's last car to be entered in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It first raced in 1998 and ended racing a year later. After the GT-One project, Toyota entered racing in the Formula 1 world championship in 2002 and are still racing in the championship.
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[edit] In Gran Turismo
The Toyota GT-One has been featured in 3 Gran Turismo games: Gran Turismo 2, Gran Turismo 3, and Gran Turismo 4.
[edit] Gran Turismo 2
In its debut in the Gran Turismo series, 3 versions of the GT-One were featured. One of these was the racing version from 1998. The livery for the 1998 GT-One race car was of the only GT-One to finish the 1998 24 hours of Le Mans, the #27 driven by Ukyo Katayama, Toshio Suzu, and Keiichi Tsuchiya. The second GT-one is the road going version for the 1998 racing car. It was made because of GT1 rules at the time.
The third and final GT-One featured in Gran Turismo 2 was the 1999 racing version. Since it was moved to a prototype class, no road version had to be made. The livery was the #1 driven by Martin Brundle, Emmanuel Collard, and Vincenzo Sospiri.
[edit] Gran Turismo 3
2 Toyota GT-Ones were featured in Gran Turismo 3. One of these was the road version of the 1998 GT-One race car. As before, it was only made for homologation reasons. The other being the 1999 racing car, the #1 driven by Martin Brundle, Emmanuel Collard, and Vincenzo Sospiri.
[edit] Gran Turismo 4
2 GT-Ones were featured in Gran Turismo 4. One was the 1999 race car which had the #3 livery driven by Ukyo Katayama, Keiichi Tsuchiya, and Toshio Suzuki. There was also a used version buy-able from the Late 90s used car lot along side the Nissan R390 GT1 in days 694-700 which has a black paint color, one of the secret black racecars.
[edit] Development
Before the GT-One, Toyota use a highly modified version of the Toyota MR2 called the Sard MC8-R. The MC8-R did prove superior to the modified Toyota Supra which were used last in 1994. After 3 years with the MC8-R (1995-1997), Toyota would develop the new GT1 car for 1998 while using it MC8-R for the 1997 24 Hours Of Le Mans (Although failing to make it past pre-qualifying). While the GT-One was in development, other GT1 manufacturers (Mercedes-Benz and Porsche with the CLK-GTR and the 911 GT1) exploited loopholes for making the cars road legal and able to be used every day. One of these such rules was that all GT cars were required to have storage space capable of holding at least a standard sized suitcase. Toyota's idea for the storage space exploited a loophole in a similar manner. Their idea was to put the suitcase (based on the idea used by the Mercedes CLK-GTR) in a space on top of the fuel cell (since it was empty during scrutineering) to make the car eligible for the GT1 class.
[edit] Specifications
These are the specifications for both years of the Toyota GT-Ones in racing. Only one set of specs are used due to little modification from year to year.
[edit] General specifications
- Country of origin: Japan
- Produced from: 1998 - 1999
- Body design: Andre de Cortanze
[edit] Engine
- Configuration: RV36V-R V 8
- Location: Mid, Longitudinally Mounted
- Construction: Aluminum Block and Head
- Displacement: 3579 cc / 218.4 cu in
- Valvetrain: 4 valves / Cylinder, DOHC
- Fuel Feed: Fuel Injection
- Aspiration: Twin Garrett turbos
[edit] Drivetrain
- Chassis/body: Carbon Fibre Monocoque
- Suspension (fr/r): Double Wishbones
- Steering: Rack-And-Pinion
- Brakes: Vented Carbon Ceramic Discs, All-Round
- Gearbox: TTE (Toyota Team Europe) 6 Speed Sequential
- Drive: Rear Wheel Drive
[edit] Dimensions
- Weight: 900 kg or 1984.2 lbs
- Length: 4840 mm (190.6 in)
- Width: 2000 mm (78.7 in)
- Height: 1125 mm (44.3 in)
- Wheelbase: 2800 mm (110.2 in)
[edit] Performance figures
- Power: 600 bhp / 448 KW @ 6000 rpm
- Torque: 650 Nm / 479 ft lbs
- BHP/Litre: 168 bhp / litre
- Power to weight: 0.67 bhp / kg
[edit] Racing Results
[edit] 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans
Toyota sent 3 GT-Ones to its debut race at Le Mans. They qualified 2nd, 7th, and 8th, only behind their rivals Mercedes-Benz. At the end of the 24 hours, only one GT-One had not retired from the race. The #28 had high speed crash around halfway through the race. Then #29 suffered a transmission failure during a battle for the race lead. The remaining #27 GT-One finished 9th overall and 25 laps behind the winning Porsche 911 GT1.
[edit] 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans
Due to new rules from the ACO and the FIA in the GT classes, more homologation cars were needed to be able to race in the GT classes. Toyota (with the GT-One), Mercedes and newcomer Audi entered the new GTP (Grand Touring Prototypes) class. Audi also entered the LMP (Le Mans Prototype) class alongside Nissan and Panoz. The winners of the previous year, Porsche, moved to the GT class with the new 911 GT3 R. Toyota was once again fast, qualifying 1st, 2nd and 8th. During the race the GT-Ones battled for the lead, however, the car's Michelin tires received punctures from debris left by other cars having accidents. The very design of the GT-One made it vulnerable to extensive damage in a situation like this where the deflated tyre flapping about starts to remove the bodywork. The #1 car had this happen, causing damage beyond repair. The #2 TS020 also had a puncture but this lead to a crash at the first Mulsanne chicane. The final car, the #3, soldiered on while other competitors retired, including the infamous Mercedes-Benz CLR incidents. In the last hour, after passing lapped traffic, the car got a puncture and had to limp back to the pit lane from the crest of the Mulsanne straight. The #15 BMW V12 LMR lapped the Toyota thus taking the win. The final GT-One finished one lap behind the winning BMW.
[edit] 1999 Le Mans Fuji 1000 Km
The final race of the GT-One was at the Fuji Speedway 1000 km race. Their main rivals were Nissan with the R931. Nissan won the race by one lap winning the team a free entrance to the 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team decided not to enter due to financial reasons.
