Toyota lead Porsche as F1 chief starts Le Mans

New Formula One chief Chase Carey waved a gold tassled French tricolor to start the Le Mans 24 Hour Race yesterday with Toyota enjoying a perfect getaway from pole. Briton Mike Conway quickly established a healthy lead from the Porsche driven by last year’s winning driver Jani Neel. The second of three Toyotas, with former F1 driver Sebastien Buemi at the wheel, was placed third at the sun-drenched Sarthe circuit. Conway is sharing the driving with Stephane Sarrazin and Kamui Kobayashi, the Japanese driver who had electrified Le Mans fans with a record breaking lap to grab pole in qualifying. Toyota are seeking a first ever win at the iconic four-wheeled endurance test after 18 attempts since 1985. They came agonisingly close last year only for Kazuki Nakajima’s car to break down when in the lead in the final lap. Nakajima is sharing the driving with Buemi, and another ex F1 driver, Anthony Davidson. While Toyota are three-handed this year, Porsche are relying on only two cars as the German manufacturer goes in search of a third successive success. Carey was joined at the start by race organiser Pierre Fillon and Jean Todt, the head of motorsport’s ruling body the FIA. —AFP