After Audi and Porsche, Toyota is next to officially reveal their new 2015 LMP1 contender. As per tradition, they went to Paul Ricard circuit in France with the whole crew to announce the new Toyota TS040 Hybrid is ready to challenge the Germans once for supremacy at Le Mans.

The interesting thing about this year’s hybrid LMP1 race cars is that each of he big three contenders have gone a different way. Audi is sticking with their beloved diesel powertrain boosted with a high-capacity hybrid module. Porsche is pairing a mahoosive 400-hp, 8-megajoule module with a tiny 2.0 liter petrol engine. And as for the Toyota TS040 Hybrid, this one is a bit more traditional in the sense that it uses a big ole V8, 3.7 liter, paired with two electric motor. The power output of all cars is around 1,000 horsepower.

Besides the upgraded powertrian, 2015 Toyota TS040 Hybrid also boasts revised aerodynamics with more downforce, upgraded front end including crash structure and new suspension kinematics to optimize tyre usage. It is also lighter than its predecessor. Are these enough to finally give Audi and their invincible R18 a bloody nose? We have to wait and see.

Toyota Motorsport GmbH will field two TS040 race cars this season. Car #1 will feature Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi alongside Kazuki Nakajima, while #2 car will be driven by Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Mike Conway.