Breaking news
WEC
Toyota’s WEC future to be decided in October
Toyota Motorsport GmbH technical director Pascal Vasselon says Toyota expects to make a decision on whether continue in the LMP1 division of the FIA World Endurance Championship in October.
Gary Watkins
Edited: Sep 2, 2017, 6:47 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Vasselon said that it was still too early to comment on plans for the future in the wake of Porsche's announcement of its withdrawal from P1 at the end of this year.
"We need further information and then we will make a decision – and that will not be before October," he said. "We need to understand where the the calendar is going, if new competitors are coming and what is happening with the regulations.”
Vasselon explained that a commitment to the WEC next year would be made in the context of continuing into the next LMP1 rules cycle, which is due to begin in 2020.
Expected changes will include zero-emissions running and plug-in hybrid technology, and Vasselon stated that it is important that the WEC does not "empty the technological tank".
"If we stay it will be in the perspective of 2020 and welcoming competition later," he said, adding that Toyota would "absorb" any information about the future announced during this weekend's Mexico City WEC round.
Toyota has a commitment to 2018 WEC, but Vasselon admitted in July, as rumours of Porsche's departure intensified, that this had been made on the understanding that it would have factory opposition and would need to be reviewed.
It has been linked to a partial WEC program around Le Mans, most likely incorporating the Spa and Fuji rounds.
Vasselon stressed that work on the 2018 version of the TS050 Hybrid was continuing. He admitted, however, it was unlikely that Toyota would field three cars at the double-points Le Mans 24 Hours round of the WEC.
"I don't consider that to be an option at the moment," he stated.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article What to watch on Motorsport.tv this weekend
Next article WEC 'superseason' to feature two Le Mans 24 Hours
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Gary Watkins
When Can-Am made its controversial comeback
General
When Can-Am made its controversial comeback
More from
Toyota Motorsport GmbH
Ogier to contest Spain, Japan to complete WRC season
WRC
WRC
Ogier to contest Spain, Japan to complete WRC season
Rovanpera: It won’t be easy to beat on-form Tanak to WRC Finland win
WRC
WRC
Rally Finland
Rovanpera: It won’t be easy to beat on-form Tanak to WRC Finland win
Latvala admits Toyota's five-car WRC expansion a possibility
WRC
WRC
Latvala admits Toyota's five-car WRC expansion a possibility
Latest news
Belgian firm to take over Renault/Alpine engine facility in Viry
WEC
WEC WEC 12 min
Belgian firm to take over Renault/Alpine engine facility in Viry
Jorge Martin the slowest Aprilia in Australia practice: “I'm used to riding with the Ducati here”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
51 min
Jorge Martin the slowest Aprilia in Australia practice: “I'm used to riding with the Ducati here”
2027 Winter Series calendar: Three series across five circuits
General
Misc General 1 h
2027 Winter Series calendar: Three series across five circuits
Ducati says Aprilia “can do whatever they want” amid team order talks in MotoGP
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Ducati says Aprilia “can do whatever they want” amid team order talks in MotoGP
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe