The comment from Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe technical director Pascal Vasselon was made in the wake of the two GR010 Hybrids ending up ninth and 15th in the combined times of the two-day official pre-season test ahead of this weekend’s Sebring 1000 Miles WEC season-opener.
The fastest Toyota was just over a second off the outright pace set by an LMP2 car and six tenths off the Alpine A480 that led the way in the Hypercar class.
The speed at which the Toyota Le Mans Hypercar can be used in four-wheel-drive mode in dry conditions has been increased from 120km/h last year to 190km/h for Sebring after the so-called ’120 Rule’ became part of the Balance of Performance for 2022.
“It is true that at 190 the functionality of four-wheel-drive is obviously hurting,” Vasselon told Autosport. “It is a big hit in terms of performance, it has a big effect.”
He confirmed that the only corners where the GR010 now deploys hybrid power through its front axle are the fast Turn 1 and…
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