Toyota insists car "absolutely legal" despite Porsche inquiry

The claim was made by Toyota Motorsport GmbH technical director Pascal Vasselon after Porsche sought a rules clarification on the rear-end aerodynamic treatment on the latest TS050 Hybrid. 

"I cannot think of one single item that could be put in doubt," he told Motorsport.com. "Our car is absolutely legal; there is no discussion."

Vasselon explained that homologations procedures meant that Toyota was discussing its aero concepts with the rule makers, the FIA and WEC promoter the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, as early as last July. 

"Since then we have had three or four meetings where step by step we have shown what we are doing, so when the final date of homologation comes the FIA and the ACO have no surprises," he said. 

"We are at the moment already discussing the legality of our concept for next year."

Vasselon insisted that he had "no idea" what was being questioned on the TS050, saying: "If you want to know more, you will have to ask Porsche.

"When things like this happen, it’s usually good news because it means we’ve done a good job."

Porsche has confirmed that it has sought a clarification on the rules, but has made no further comment.

Vasselon dismissed the idea that Porsche's claims centre on the TS050 incorporating a double diffuser as spurious. 

He denied that the Toyota featured such as solution and pointed out that it would be legal within the rules.