us. The regulation comes in next year at 1,200 hours.”
But where are the main expenditures at the moment?
“We now control the running of the car, the aero side, but what we don’t control is the powertrain. That’s where most of the costs are” says Vasselon. “So we have proposed to put in place a token system. At the moment it’s just in principal, we have not set figures. The system used in Formula One is quite clever if you use it correctly. You consider the powertrain, then break it down in say 100 development areas which are clearly defined.
Next year you only allow 30 areas of development, so to make it simple you’re only developing 30% of the powertrain. If you want to go to 50% you can do that, so it’s really a tool for the regulators and the partners to decide how much.
But how do new manufacturers catch up in a free development race?
That would be correct if there was an unlimited budget" stresses Pascal.
"Whether you are quick or not, your budget will not change. Our budget will limit the amount of development we can do. Even if we have to catch up, we cannot redesign our engine, so are better to make sure nobody can do it. At the moment it becomes extremely difficult to enter the sport. At the moment, if a new team enters F1 it takes them five years to be competitive. We are progressively going to the same world. It’s exciting but makes us very fragile and there is less incentive for a newcomer to come in.”
If this year’s car isn’t successful it would be understandable – albeit disappointing - to see Toyota take another hiatus form sports car racing.
Historically, Japanese and French manufacturers have come and gone as they please in various motor sport categories, but Vasselon is philosophical in his view on what a protracted means in the world of motor sport.
“Our commitment is long term. But what does long-term mean in motor sport?” he asks. “If we do three seasons like that then I don’t think we’ll stay. I have no-one telling me that, but that’s my prediction. If we do well we stay.”
Having started with effectively a blank sheet (as Porsche did in 2015), will 2016
represent a transition year with the new car and is Porsche still the benchmark?
“Our target next year is to recover our performance. We accept that we need totake risks. I’m not thinking for one second
about having to explain or make excuses” admits Vasselon. “We are just flat out making very decision to make it right. Porsche are making an impressive performance, but we believe there is room to do a bit better. That is our belief at the moment.
Although Toyota is in support of a limit on development to save money, what is Pascal’s view on limiting the cars to 1000HP throughout the season in terms of safety?
“We understand it for Le Mans. What we are questioning a little bit is why at Formula One tracks where it’s not an issue” muses Vasselon. “You need to reach your top speed as quickly as possible.”