Toyota Motorsport GmbH recently confirmed its intention to contest the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours with a hybrid LMP1 prototype.

The chassis and powertrain will be designed and developed at the team’s headquarters in Cologne, Germany. To run its endurance racing programme, however, the Japanese make has secured the services of Oreca. “It’s a big day for Oreca. To have been chosen by Toyota Motorsport GmbH is a tremendous reward for all the hard work we have put in over recent years,” said Oreca boss Hugues de Chaunac in a press release. “Our expertise means that ORECA is today capable of working with the world’s biggest car manufacturer on what stands out as an extremely exciting project. We are proud to be in a position to reveal that we have accepted the challenge of working alongside Toyota Motorsport GmbH, and we can’t wait to get started.”

This year, Oreca won the 12 Hours of Sebring with a Peugeot 908 HDi FAP before claiming a top-five finish at Le Mans and second place at Petit Le Mans. Oreca also manufactures its own chassis (Oreca01, Oreca03).

Before its association with Peugeot (2010 and 2011), Oreca ran Chrysler Vipers, an Audi R8 (2005) and Saleen S7Rs (2006) in endurance racing. Oreca was also involved in the victory of the rotary-engined Mazda 787B in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1991.