Toyota working on wild Le Mans-inspired hypercar

Toyota's high-performance division has announced it will build a next-generation "super sports car" that will use a "cutting-edge hybrid" powertrain inspired by its Le Mans-winning LMP1 racer.

Toyota Gazoo Racing made the announcement that it is working on what's being touted as a follow up to the Lexus LF-A hypercar at the Le Mans 24 Hour over the weekend.

Claimed to harness the technology and know-how from the Japanese car-maker's huge investment in technology designed to help it compete in the World Endurance Championship, the project was heralded on the weekend by a video focussing on the wild GR Super Sport concept that Toyota unveiled in January at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

The Toyota/Lexus hypercar is said to take direct inspiration from the TS050 Hybrid race car that won Le Mans and was powered by an incredible 735kW 2.4-litre twin-turbo V6 combined with powerful electric motors.

Using an advanced 'lean burn' combustion cycle, Toyota claimed its hypercar concept would blend the ultimate "power and environment performance".

When it was revealed, the GR Super Sport Concept was considered by many to be a mere flight of fantasy, but now -- following the Toyota Gazoo Racing announcement -- it's thought the Japanese car-maker is serious about creating a LaFerrari or McLaren P1 rival.

If so, the GR Super Sport could redefine performance for the class both on the road and track -- if a road version materialises.

Some have warned that the Japanese car-maker could follow the emerging trend of creating a track-only hypercar in a similar vein to the Aston Martin Vulcan and the forthcoming Brabham BT62.

Toyota has not confirmed any more details of its new super sports car, and nor has it announced when it plans to unveil a concept or production car.