Toyota Motorsport GmbH, the racing arm of the Japanese auto giant Toyota Motor Corp., will race a petrol hybrid car in the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hour racing event.

The German-based Toyota Motorsport will build the chassis of the future petrol hybrid racing car, which will be engineered by Toyota Motor Corp. in Japan.

The hybrid powertrain will compete in the top category, viz. LMP1, against rivals like Peugeot and Audi.

The company also said that the new race team would be sorted out of Toyota Motorsport’s Cologne headquarters.

Making the announcement, Toyota Motorsport’s chairman Tadashi Yamashina said, “Toyota has entered Le Mans before, but by using our hybrid technology, this time will be a completely new challenge.”

Toyota last participated in Le Mans with its GT-One in the year of 1999. The Japanese automaker also has plans to participate in various 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship events.