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novembre 06, 2017 - Toyota

WEC - Victory in China for Toyota GAZOO Racing

Comunicato Stampa disponibile solo in lingua originale. 

Toyota GAZOO #racing dominated the 6 Hours of #shanghai to win its fourth race of the 2017 FIA World #endurance Championship (WEC) season on a day tinged with frustration.

Sébastien Buemi, Anthony Davidson and Kazuki Nakajima in the #8 TS050 Hybrid took victory by more than a lap from their nearest challengers for Toyota's third win in #shanghai, setting the fastest lap of the race in the process.

However, the team had been on course for a second consecutive one-two finish prior to a late collision which damaged the #7 TS050 Hybrid of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López. They eventually finished fourth.

That result means #toyota goes to the final race of 2017, in Bahrain on 18 November, level on four wins each with Porsche. However, both title battles are over, with Porsche and drivers Timo Bernhard, Earl Bamber and Brendon Hartley confirmed as World Champions.

When the race began, José led from pole in the #7 while Sébastien lost a position but fought back to pass both Porsches. With 26 cars on track, traffic is always a challenge and José hit the #26 LMP2 after 30 minutes, losing eight seconds and dropping to third.

He recovered the position and, as the one-hour mark approached, handed the #7 over to Kamui in second place at the first pit stops. Unlike its sister car, the #8 crew chose to double stint the tyres, and Sébastien resumed in the lead.

But after two hours, all leading cars had made their second pit stops and Kamui led in the #7 with Anthony just behind on new tyres in the #8. Both were well clear of the #2 Porsche while the #1 was now one lap behind.

Anthony put the new tyres to good use and passed Kamui for the lead, recording several quick lap times to extend his advantage prior to a full course yellow, during which both TS050 Hybrids pitted, the #7 changing two tyres and switching driver to Mike.

The two TS050 Hybrids continued to lead beyond the halfway point and were consistently faster than the competition. Kazuki lapped the third-placed Porsche #2 with around two hours to go and the cars eased their pace to avoid unnecessary risk.

When the final pit stops came with just under an hour to go, Sébastien took new tyres in the #8 while José only refuelled, meaning he led. However, contact with the #91 Porsche GT damaged the left rear of the #7 and cost 13 minutes in the pits.

Quick work by the mechanics allowed the car to return to the track and take the chequered flag in fourth, seven laps behind. Sébastien completed a dominant but bitter-sweet victory on a day when the team had shown the performance to earn a one-two.

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