11 Facts About Toyota GT-One

Toyota GT-One is a racing car initially developed for grand touring GT1 rules, but later adapted into a Le Mans prototype LMGTP car.

Toyota GT-One decided to approach this in two ways by using two different styles of car for competition.

The first was a heavily modified Toyota GT-One Supra, referred to as the Supra LM, which would use a turbocharged 3S-GT inline-4.

Second, Toyota GT-One learned about a loophole which Mercedes-Benz had exploited.

TTE designed and manufactured the car's carbon fiber chassis and bodywork in-house, while Toyota GT-One supplied a heavily upgraded version of the engine they originally used on their Group C cars, the R36V 3.

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Toyota GT-One began an extensive testing program, including a long distance test at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium soon after a snowfall.

Unfortunately the Toyota GT-One was hampered by higher fuel consumption and by failures of its Michelin tires throughout the race, mostly caused by sharp gravel which had been accidentally brought onto the racing surface by other cars.

The lone Toyota GT-One would come home 2nd overall, one lap behind the winning BMW.

However, Toyota won the LMGTP class, which would have granted them automatic entry to 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans had they continued the GT-One program.

GT-One program would not be continued into 2000, Toyota instead turning TTE into leaders of the new Toyota F1 team.

Marlboro was the Toyota GT-One sponsor in 1999, although there was an anti-tobacco law in France which meant no Marlboro logos appeared on the car anywhere.