Toyota pulled out of Formula One racing back in 2009, and since then, there have been whispers that they wanted to focus on returning to the legendary Le Mans endurance race. Unfortunately, Japanese automakers have never had much success in the legendary race. In fact, only one competing Japanese automaker has ever placed #1 in the 24 Hour of Le Mans endurance race, which was done with their rotary engine. Knowing this, Toyota is going into this race with a different strategy: Bring some of the hybrid tech!.

Yes, Toyota is preparing to wow the world by creating a hybrid race car to enter in the grueling  twenty four hour race. In 2006, the heads of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race has embraced alternative fuels, in order to promote sustainable racing. With the "first hybrid to claim a victory at Le Mans" award on the line, automakers from all over the world are putting together a hybrid or electric vehicle.

"Toyota Motor Corporation has entered Le Mans before, but by using our hybrid technology this time will be a com pletely new challenge," says Tadashi Yamashina, Toyota Motorsport Chairman. "We want to write a new page in the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours, as well as in the FIA World Endurance Championship, through our use of hybrid technology."¹

The question remains, will Toyota make automotive history at Le Mans? Tri-State Toyota, located at 191 West Main Street, Dudley, MA, 01571, certainly thinks so, especially when you consider the kind of attention to detail that you'll find in every new Toyota model that they produce. If you'd like to learn more about any vehicle in the 2011 or 2012 Toyota lineup, be sure to contact [Dealer] online or by phone at 508.943.7474.

Source: ¹http://www.echonews.com.au/story/2011/10/20/toyota-back-le-mans-challenge/