WEC: Toyota’s Davidson pining for new 2016 P1 car

Defending FIA World Endurance Championship LMP1 champion Anthony Davidson can't wait to shift his attention to next year's Toyota LMP1 car. This weekend's WEC season finale in Bahrain will see the Briton and fellow Toyota driver Sebastien Buemi surrender their Drivers' title to a lineup from Porsche or Audi, and after a humbling year with the Toyota TS040 Hybrid, the ex-Formula 1 pilot can't wait to get its replacement ready for 2016.

"I can't wait to see the season over with!" Davidson (LEFT) told RACER. "That said, I have enjoyed every race this year, and my eagerness to get the season over comes from preparing the new car. I've really enjoyed driving the [TS040], like I always do, and in a weird way, maybe more than last year where we were so successful because there haven't been any complications from focusing on championships or points. I've just driven 100% every time I've been in the car. And I felt free doing that.

"But equally, we are out there to win, and it really hurts not standing on the podium every race and spraying the champagne and beating the competition. At least we had last year, and nobody can take that away from the team or from me having become world champion. And that's a great feeling. I know I've still got the speed, and the team has the skill to deliver, so it's on to Bahrain and then to preparing ourselves for next year.

Although 2014's dominant TS040 Hybrid evolved during the offseason, and received an increase in hybrid power, Toyota was the only LMP1 manufacturer that chose to remain in the same Megajoule class. Audi increased from 2MJ to 4MJ, and Porsche went from 6MJ to the top 8MJ threshold, while Toyota, which ran at 6MJ last year, opted to maximize its hybrid system for 2015 and has been at a notable power and acceleration deficit since the championship opened at Silverstone.

With its new car, Toyota is expected to join the 8MJ class, and has confirmed it will replace its naturally-aspirated V8 engine with a turbocharged motor in an attempt to erase the gap to Porsche and Audi.

"Unfortunately, it's pretty much all about the car in this sport," Davidson said. "And it's no secret we have not had the year we expected. I can't wait for next year to come along now and we know we've got some huge gains to make to close the gap to the competition. The other marques have done a fantastic job, and they've set the bar extremely high, so it is down to us now to step up to the plate and get back to our winning ways. It's not going to be easy, but I'm sure it's going to be a better season than what we had this year, and I have every confidence we will improve."

Known for his technical prowess as a development driver, Davidson is looking forward to the process involved with making the next Toyota P1 entry a winner.

"Sports cars are really good in that you have the same car between many teammates, so instead of just having one or two drivers banging the table and saying, 'This is what I want to improve,' you have a group of drivers like myself who can give a lot of input to make the car as good as possible," he said.

"We feel like sometimes it's repetitive in saying the same things about where the competition is doing well, or where you are lacking, but this team always takes that on board and I think we all know exactly where we are, where we stand and where we need to improve. That is why for next year it is a whole new package, especially with what Porsche did for this year."

Having new technology to play with also interests Davidson.

"There are some clever things about the [TS040] we will carry forward into next year's car, but it is going to be a completely revisited car in every sense," he said. "Next year will be a revolution of a change for the car, not just the small step we made this year. We know we have to make huge gains. You're going to have to look at every single avenue of performance, so that is what we are doing and that is what is being done.

"Powertrain, chassis, aero, you name it; it is getting a thorough look through and revamp. Going from 6 to 8 MJ, I think that is the minimum target that they should be now. As we have seen – it's there in black and white the gains you can make from 6 to 8 MJ. The way we have the car set up this year, 6 was the optimum megajoule category for the way the car was, but looking at it from a clean sheet, you have to check the box and make 8 as the starting point, and you go from there."

Hybrid development, in particular, is an area where Davidson believes the FIA WEC P1 class offers manufacturers like Toyota an opportunity to use racing to improve its future road cars.

"That is going to be one development category where I am very excited," he continued. "I feel this class is all about the hybrid and it's the one huge area where we are really keen on promoting, keen on showing and keen on learning about as well. As a world leader in the hybrid technology, it is a great series for Toyota to be involved in, to carry on development. It really does make sense for them."

Once the checkered flag waves over the 2015 WEC season Saturday in Bahrain, Davidson and his teammates will waste no time getting their next P1 challenger ready to take Toyota back to where it belongs in the sport.

"We are all behind it as well as drivers," he said. "I can't wait to get to the new car and start giving feedback, just to start something new and fresh. We all know this car, the TS040 is a known concept and it's a very familiar car to sit in and drive; you feel like you've squeezed every ounce of performance out of the package we have, and now it is time for something completely new.

"And it is not easy. When you try to gain so much ground on the competition, you have to fast track so many things. Unfortunately, that is the position we are in. But I've got every faith in the team that they can turn it around and make the car fast and reliable, but you've got to take fast as your main priority."