Back To Le Mans
Having come so close to success in the past, Toyota was determined to add a Le Mans victory to its roll of international sporting successes. Using its European base at TTE, it launched an intensive programme and recruited Andre de Cortanze, a designer whose past work included the Le Mans-winning Peugeot 905.
De Cortanze completed the chassis concept for the Toyota TS020 – better-known as the GT-One – in January 1997 and within two months work was well in hand in on the general design and details of the car’s front, rear and fuel tank. By May the doors and rear and side structures were completed and the engine cover rounded off the job by September.
In its day, the design project was one of the most advanced in motor sport, being accomplished entirely on CAD systems; no drawing boards were used.
The first chassis was delivered in October 1997, the sleek shape of the bodywork having been refined using a wind tunnel in Italy. De Cortanze’s design was characterised by the minimal vents and air exits in the body.
The engine had its heritage in the twin-turbo V8 which powered Toyota’s Group C cars in the late 1980s. The TTE engine division, led by Norbert Kreyer, completely revised the original design, reducing the height and weight, improving fuel economy, boosting power and changing the rev range.
The first GT-One chassis ran in December 1997, less than a year from the start of the project. Initial test and development was undertaken by Martin Brundle, but later all nine drivers in the Toyota Le Mans squad were given significant time at the wheel.
In accordance with the FIA rules of the day, the GT-One had also to be developed as a legal road car. In fact the differences between the race and road versions of the car were small. On the road-going model the rear wing was set lower and the suspension ride height was raised. A smaller fuel tank was fitted and the addition of catalytic converters ensured the vehicle complied with emissions regulations.
The car made its first competition appearance in the 1998 Le Mans race, qualifying in second. The team of Thierry Boutsen, Emmanuel Collard and Eric Hélary held second place in the race until the final hour when the Toyota was forced in retirement through transmission failure. Team-mates Ukyo Katayama, Toshio Suzuki and Keiichi Tsuchiya took the chequered flag in ninth position.
Toyota returned to Le Mans the following year and swept all competition aside in qualifying to claim first, second and third places on the grid in qualifying. However, in the race the number 1 and 2 cars of Brundle/Collard/Sospiri and Boutsen/Kelleners/McNish were sidelined by separate accidents.
