As part of a sudden and unexpected change in Balance of Performance for the centenary edition of the French endurance classic, the minimum weight of the two Toyota GR010 Hybrids has been raised by 37kg, the highest increase for any car in the Hypercar class.
This contributed to Toyota’s underwhelming showing in the pre-Le Mans 24 test, with the best of its two hybrid LMH contenders ending up third on the timesheets, three-tenths behind the pace-setting Ferrari 499P LMH and the Porsche Penske 963 LMDh.
Lopez, who is sharing the #7 Toyota with Kamui Kobayashi and Mike Conway, conceded that it would be “very difficult” for the Japanese manufacturer to continue its winning streak at Circuit de la Sarthe, given how much it is losing in top-speed compared to its rivals.
“Ferrari was ten kilometres faster than us on the straights and we were clearly third. Porsche and Ferrari were faster,” he told Autosport's Latin American edition.
“Although there is a long way to go, I don't think the rest have shown everything, it's going to be difficult, very difficult.
“Our chance is going to be to have a car that doesn't have problems, to make clean pit stops, without mistakes. A perfect race. If we can do that, we have a chance.
“It was a very big change, quite a strong BoP, considering we were not the fastest in the last two races, mainly. Ferrari was faster.
“Maybe when you see the final result that you finish one lap ahead of them, (but) that doesn't really reflect the performance.
“But as I always say, there are people who are in charge of that. If you ask me, I don't agree with the change or the system. I don't like it, but I have to adapt because I am part of the show and also those changes are for the show.”
Source: Autosport