Toyota GAZOO Racing wins WEC season opener at Silverstone
Toyota GAZOO Racing scored a dramatic victory recently in the 6 Hours of Silverstone after a thrilling opening round of the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). In a race defined by several rain showers, the #8 TS050 Hybrid of Sebastien Buemi, Anthony Davidson and Kazuki Nakajima earned a victory inside the final 15 minutes in front of 50,200 spectators (weekend figure).
As well as the usual winners’ trophies, the #8 crew also claimed the Royal Automobile Club International Tourist Trophy, the world’s oldest motor race, which was first awarded in 1905 and won by motorsport legends such as Tazio Nuvolari, Graham Hill and Stirling Moss. Through it can be charted the careers of some of the greatest drivers, manufacturers and team staff, some of the most challenging and majestic racetracks, and some of the most innovative technology ever seen in the sport.
The pole-sitting #7 TS050 Hybrid of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose MarÌa L’pez set the fastest lap of the race but lost over an hour due to an accident and finished 23rd. Jose MarÌa visited the circuit medical center and then travelled to the hospital for a precautionary scan which confirmed he suffered no injuries.
‘IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE’
Congratulating the winning team, Takayuki Yoshitsugu, Chief Representative, Middle East and North Africa Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation, said, “Our cars gave the audience an impressive performance in a very challenging and competitive battle. The race was extremely close, with plenty of lead changes throughout that set the stage for a thrilling finish. Eventually, the #8 crew did an excellent job to hold off the competition and give Toyota a well-deserved victory in the season’s opening round, and also earning the historic Royal Automobile Club International Tourist Trophy.”
Yoshitsugu added: “The experience and knowledge gained on the racetracks will benefit us immensely in our efforts to create ‘ever-better cars’. I would like to thank our amazing fans for their constant encouragement for our racing initiatives, and we look forward to their support during a promising 2017 season.”
On this occasion, Toshio Sato, Team President, said, “This has been a dramatic race but the first priority is Jose MarÌa, and we are all relieved that he is okay after the accident. The whole team performed well and fought right until the checkered flag. Of course, it is disappointing not to have two cars on the podium, but I am proud of the team for their determination and fighting spirit, particularly the mechanics who worked so quickly to get the #7 car back on track. Overall I am satisfied with our high-down force TS050 Hybrid, which showed robust performance throughout this week.” Although the race started in cool, dry conditions and the two Toyota vehicles ran in first and second, the weather soon intervened - after 45 minutes a shower struck and light rain fell intermittently after that. Close to the second pit stops, the #7 suffered an anti-roll bar problem which created handling difficulties and caused Kamui to lose performance and drop to fourth.
Anthony, now at the wheel of the #8, took over the lead but with two hours completed, the weather worsened and created a very challenging situation. Both TS050 Hybrid vehicles stayed on slick tires throughout. Kamui lost time in the gravel when the rain was at its heaviest, while Anthony in the #8 initially slipped to second. But as the conditions improved, Anthony reclaimed top spot.
GRANDSTAND FINISH
More rain came just after half distance, which caused the end of the #7 car’s challenge. Jose MarÌa, fighting a car with difficult handling, crashed into a tire barrier at speed, causing extensive damage to the front and rear. He brought the car back to the pits and the mechanics worked hard to repair the damage. After 66 minutes in the garage, Mike brought the car back on track in 26th.
That accident brought out a safety car and significantly reduced the #8 car’s advantage over the second-placed #2. The close fight continued throughout the final two hours, setting up a grandstand finish, with Sebastien at the wheel for the last stint. When the #2 car emerged from its final pit stop, with 30 minutes remaining, its lead was only eight seconds. Sebastien hunted down the lead with a series of quick lap times, even as more drizzle fell, and eventually overtook with only 12 minutes remaining, taking the win by 6.173 seconds.
The team now prepares for the second round of the season - the 6 Hours of SpaFrancor champs in Belgium, the final race before the Le Mans 24 Hours. Spa-Francor champs will mark the first time Toyota has entered three hybrid-powered LMP1 cars, with Stephane Sarrazin, Yuji Kunimoto and Nicolas Lapierre competing in the #9 TS050 Hybrid.