When the World Endurance Championship debuted its LMH ruleset in 2021 to replace the expensive LMP1 regulations, there were few brands taking advantage of them. While other brands like Ferrari and Peugeot have since joined in, only Toyota and Glickenhaus took the plunge when they first took off.
With Glickenhaus having since disappeared, this ensures Toyota’s GR010 is the longest-standing LMH car currently on the WEC grid. Thanks to LMU, you can put it through its paces from the safety of your sim rig. This guide will walk you through how to get the best from it.
The Rest Of The WEC Grid Has Found It Tough To Catch The Trusty Toyota
The Toyota GR010 will fit the vast majority of drivers in LMU due to its neutral driving style, meaning whether you’ve got plenty of experience or none in hypercars, the Toyota will be a sensible option. If you want to see the Toyota in action, check out this onboard video of the vehicle taking on the commanding Sebring circuit.
The GR010 showed its pedigree from the moment it debuted, as it dominated their 2021 WEC campaign by winning every single race ahead of the Glickenhaus and the Alpine A480, a restricted version of the Rebellion Racing LMP1 racer from previous years run by current LMDh team Alpine. The old Alpine proved to be a tougher proposition in 2022, though Toyota still claimed the drivers and constructors’ championships courtesy of winning four of the six races.
It managed to emerge victorious at the storied 24 Hours of Le Mans in both these seasons, the last time it has done so as the Japanese brand was beaten to victory in the French classic the last two seasons by Ferrari’s 499P LMH contender. Despite this, the Toyota won all but one race in 2023 en route to the drivers and manufacturer titles once more, before taking the constructors’ in 2024 as Porsche secured the drivers’ spoils.
The GR010 has firmly been the car to beat, though with Ferrari having won the first two races of 2025 off the back of Porsche claiming the 2024 drivers title, its advantage has been slowly eroded away. BOP has helped the other brands in this area, but their race teams getting ever slicker has further reduced the gap to the mighty Toyota.
Car Specifications & Key Features
Having been built to LMH regulations, Toyota’s GR010 comes with its twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine combined with a bespoke hybrid system, which is mounted to the front axle. This is in contrast to LMDh cars, which come with a spec hybrid setup mounted to the rear wheels.
This means that while they are purely rear-wheel drive, the GR010 is four-wheel drive once it travels past its BOP-determined hybrid deployment speed. The hybrid setup is also capable of using 200 kW of power, unlike the Bosch spec-LMDh unit that can use 50 kW.
Its chassis is also completely bespoke, unlike LMDh cars that utilise one of the four regulated LMP2 chassis as their base. Coach Dave Academy has outlined these aspects in more detail in our comprehensive guide to the prototypes available in LMU.
The GR010s V6 is mated to a transversally mounted seven-speed sequential gearbox, which divides a total system output of 670 hp between the wheels, though total system output can change depending on the BOP set. Like the cars it races against in the Hypercar class, the GR010 comes loaded with traction control, but no ABS.
- Like its hypercar rivals, the GR010 comes with an adjustable front splitter and rear spoiler, as well as a flat floor and rear diffuser to help increase downforce
- The GR010 is closely modeled to whichever version of the car is chosen in-game, with any season-specific bodywork or under-the-skin changes being replicated
- It’s important to utilise the GR010’s hybrid system correctly, the onboard battery level needs to always have some charge in it, though not maxed out or fully depleted
- If depleted, the battery won’t assist the engine and help it to save fuel, and if charged, the hybrid system isn’t harvesting energy from braking, which will cause the rear brakes to not function properly and lock the rear wheels up under braking
- Make sure that the car’s regen setting is set to its full increment, and play around with the motor output to control the battery level during a stint to make sure it always sits between 0% and 100%
Handling & Performance on Track
The Toyota GR010 LMH is arguably the most neutral prototype entry in LMU, the machine very docile in all phases of a corner, slow or fast. The rear end remains glued to the road on corner entry, allowing you to focus your energy on getting it slowed and tipping the front end in towards the apex. This makes it easy to trailbrake into the bend, as you can trust the rear to hang on.
Its balance tends to switch towards understeer if you carry too much speed into the corner, though get it right and the GR010 is very approachable, which makes it straightforward to carry good corner speed and momentum. In high-speed corners, lifting off the throttle slightly will help to induce a bit of extra rotation to help you get around the turn. These characteristics make it effective in the wet, where its approachable balance prevents your confidence from bleeding away in the tricky and slippery conditions.
- The GR010 is well behaved through all stages of a corner, making it one of the easiest cars to get into a strong rhythm with
- This means it’s easier to look after the rear tires during a stint, as you can easily feel if the front or rear is starting to slide ahead of time
- The twin-turbo V6 is nicely optimised, and, when combined with TC, the GR010 launches off corners with little drama
- The GR010 is impressively stable on the brakes, with very little rear locking unless you get aggressive with the brake bias. It tends to lock the front wheels first, though releasing brake pressure will allow you to recover without losing too much time
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Best Tracks for the Toyota GR010 in Le Mans Ultimate
The GR010’s excellently-balanced chassis and aero package make it a good choice at tracks where carrying corner speed and momentum is important, such as Imola and Portimao. It also works well at trickier venues like the extremely bumpy Sebring, where its approachability ensures it’s easier to be consistent.
- The GR010 struggles with top-end speed, making it a poor choice at tracks with longer straights like Monza and Le Mans
This is reflected in the GR010s real-life racing record, where it excels at most tracks aside from the ones with extremely long straights, like Le Mans. It has struggled to be on leading pace there across the past couple of years, with the team instead using its strategic nous and the GR010s consistency to make up for the lack of raw pace.
How It Compares to Other Cars in the Class
The GR010 provides the easiest and most neutral balance of the LMH cars available on LMU, with the Ferrari 499P sometimes being snappy on corner exit, while the Peugeot 9×8 tends to suffer from understeer. This makes it easier than most of the LMDhs as a result, though the BMW M Hybrid V8 gives it a good run for its money. At tracks where long straights aren’t present, the GR010 is very difficult to beat.
- The GR010 sits at the safer and more approachable side of the coin, making it particularly effective over longer stints where consistency is key
- It lacks top-end speed, making it a poor choice at tracks with long straights like Monza, Spa, and Le Mans. This also affects its raceability, so qualifying well will be more important at these venues
- It is particularly effective in low-grip conditions at high speed due to its AWD setup, which kicks in at speeds above 190 km/h, boosting traction when active
For tips on how to utilise the GR010s motor maps, refer to Coach Dave Academy’s guide on the subject.
Final Verdict: Is the Toyota GR010 the Right Choice for You?
The GR010 is a great choice for a wide range of drivers, with its consistent and balanced driving style making it one of the easiest hypercars to jump in and be quick with. It’s approachable and effective at each part of the corner, while its assured rear end makes getting off the corner straightforward too. Its only major weakness is its lack of top-end speed, which can make it difficult to attack or defend from other cars.
| Pros | Cons |
| Neutral balance and strong aero package ensure it’s strong in every aspect of the corner, slow or high speed | Lack of top-end speed makes overtaking other hypercars difficult |
| Very stable under braking, little worry of locking up the rears when keeping the battery charge at the required level | Understeer can cause you to push wide in a corner if you carry too much speed on entry |
| Traction is solid due to well-optimised V6 engine | |
| Strong stability in wet weather compared to LMDhs above 190 kph |
The GR010 is well suited to a range of drivers, though less experienced hypercar pilots and those who enjoy competing in longer races, where consistency is important, will relish its natural balance. Aggressive drivers may struggle to carry corner speed due to the GR010’s tendency to understeer when overdriven, forcing you to wait longer before getting back on throttle on corner exit.
When this is borne in mind, few drivers will struggle to get a handle on this gentle beast.
- Aggressive Drivers: 7.5/10
- Endurance Racers: 9/10
- Casual Sim Racers: 9.5/10
Wrapping Up
It’s easy to see why the Toyota GR010 is one of the most popular choices in LMU, as its approachable handling balance ensures that less experienced drivers can work on learning the tricky hypercar driving style without jumping into the deep end with some of the more unpredictable challengers. Its neutral balance also makes it a solid choice for experienced campaigners who want to prioritise consistency in longer races, though taking on tracks with longer straights will make your life tough due to its lower top speed potential.
If you want to improve your driving, remember to use Coach Dave Delta’s telemetry and AI Coaching functionality. When used correctly, these will allow you to lower your lap time faster.
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