In 2007 Toyota won the Tokkachi endurance race in Japan using a hybrid race car based on the company’s legendary Supra. To put it bluntly, the Supra HV-R GT made history, giving validity to the idea of an alternative power train in a racing application. Powered by a 4.5 liter V8 putting out 473 hp combined with a brake energy regeneration and drive system, which routed power to a 150 kW motor linked to a quick-charging capacitor. This motor drove two independent motors integrated into the front wheels. If it sounds complex, that’s because it was.

But the real news is that last week, we got word that Toyota is mulling a return for the HV-R GT, in spirit at least, as it is planning on building a new car that integrates a refined version of the technology for a renewed assault on the GT1 class at LeMans. Autocar is predicting that it will be at least 2012 before we see the new race car/team make its appearance, as Toyota will need to return to profitability before taking such a project forward.

Stay tuned.