DOME TOYOTA 85-88. Toyota's first attempt at Le Mans was a low key effort in 1980 when its turbo

Toyota's first attempt at Le Mans was a low key effort in 1980 when its turbo-charged Celica failed to qualify. The com-pany did not come back until 1985.

In 1983 a Group C Toyota prototype was unveiled with a chassis produced by the Dome company and a four cylinder Toyota turbo engine. The project was developed over two seasons of national racing prior to Le Mans where one car was run by Dome, another by TOMS, both factory backed. The chassis was a carbon fibre and Kevlar monocoque with rocker arm rear suspen-sion setting the dampers over the transaxle. Cooling provision set a water radiator in the nose, oil and intercoolers in the flanks. The g.r.p. body incorporated a nose splitter to control the airflow to the underwing while a rear wing was supported by two heafty tail fins.

The engine was a 2090cc. in line unit derived from the production Celica with two valve belt driven heads. Boosted at 1.5 bar by a twin entry turbocharger, power was quoted as 500 bhp. A Nippon Denso engine management system was fitted. Lack of power saw the cars left behind though the TOMS entry finished, in 12th place. Clutch failure sidelined the Dome car.

The two teams were back in 1986 with aerodynamically revised, narrower front track cars carrying revised engines and a March rather than a Newland transmission.

Overall, the package was 30 kg. lighter. The cars again looked short of power and the TOMS entry went out with engine failure in the eighth hour. The Dome chassis looked set for an 11th place finish but the turbo-charger caught fire with less than an hour to run.

For 1987 the introduction of a new 16 valve head increased power to 680 bhp, the engine now known as the 3S GT and dis-placing 2140 cc. The wheelbase was 10 cm. longer and subtle aerodynamic changes had been made. The 87C was another 20 kg. lighter. This year both en-tries were from TOMS, now the full factory team. Low on top speed, the cars qualified 14th and 16th and both retired: out of fuel and head gasket failure.

The TOMS cars came back in 1988 with suspension and cooling revisions and qualified in the top 10 and finished, 12th and 24th after various delays.

DOME

85C - 1985 Composite monocoque Suspension: wishbone front rocker arm rear Engine semi-stressed Newland gearbox Ground effect car

TOYOTA in line 4 2.1 litres Iron block Fuel injected 8 valves s.o.h.c. Single turbo 500b.h.p.