Three questions to Toyota Racing's Technical Director Pascal Vasselon

Last week Nicolas Lapierre was the victim of an accident at the Paul Ricard circuit at Le Castellet in the Toyota TS030 HYBRID. The damage to the chassis was too great, and the Japanese manufacturer will not be able to début the new prototype at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship ​​(see article) to the disappointment of Pascal Vasselon, Toyota Racing's Technical Director.

Pascal, will preparation for the Le Mans 24 Hours be distrupted by the incident last week?

"Our progress is currently stalled. We have only one chassis available and we will not receive the second until late April, which does not allow us to build a new car for 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The news is very sad for Toyota because we had planned to invite employees and their families (the competition department of Toyota is based in Cologne, Germany, not far from the the Belgian Ardennes) to celebrate the competition debut of the TS030 HYBRID."

Have you identified the problem experienced by Nicolas Lapierre?

"The cause of the incident was detected immediately. We were driving in conditions of heavy rain to test the car in the wet. Unfortunately, an electronic unit let in water, which caused the accident. We need to work on sealing the electronics, but nothing insurmountable. "

Is the timing of your preparation affected?

"We have lost almost all of April and the only race that allowed us to prepare the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Two test sessions were scheduled in April. We will schedule two, possibly three, sessions in May, but nothing replaces the race. We will do our best to be prepared. "

For spectators, the Test Day 24 Hours of Le Mans on 3rd June will be the first opportunity to see the Toyota TS030 HYBRID on track before the big race on the 16th and 17th June.
Interview by Cécile Bonardel

Photo : LE CASTELLET (VAR, FRANCE), CIRCUIT PAUL RICARD, 25th JAN 2012. Pascal Vasselon, Technical Director of Toyota Racing discusses the causes of the accident suffered by Nicolas Lapierre.