In a pure adrenaline rush, Toyota Gazoo Racing (GR), partnered by Acronis, sealed a one-two victory, completing hypercar season off in style during the 8 Hours of Bahrain on a day of destiny for the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Drivers’ Championship crown.
With this feat, of an impressive one-two podium standing, at Bahrain Hypercar Season circuit, it aided Toyota to seal fourth Manufacturer’s Championship title for Toyota.
As per the firm’s announcement, an emotional finale to the WEC season witnessed Kazuki Nakajima bring the curtain down on his glittering endurance career in fitting style with victory in the #8 GR010 HYBRID he shares with Sebastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley.
Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez, Le Mans winners retained their Drivers’ Championship title by finishing second during the sixth and final round of the season in the No. 7 GR010 HEV.
Kamui becomes Japan’s first two-time World Champion on four wheels while Jose becomes only the second Argentinian to win five FIA World Championships, following in the footsteps of the great Juan Manuel Fangio.
As per Toyota Gazoo Racing statement, both GR010 HYBRIDs displayed a tribute to Kazuki, who has earned his status as an resolution racing legend by winning Le Mans three times. He had now took 17 victories from his 59 WEC races and won the 2018-2019 World Championship title alongside Sebastien and Fernando Alonso.
On a day of new milestones, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing became the first team to win every race in a WEC season. It extended its unprecedented winning run to nine, in its 70th event since entering the series in 2012. Last week’s victory in Bahrain meant it had already secured its fourth teams’ World Championship.
Despite clean sweeps in all sessions of the Bahrain double-header, the GR010 HYBRIDs played catch-up on the opening laps when the #36 Alpine stole an early lead. But some exciting wheel-to-wheel racing put the GR010 HYBRIDs back in front and they never looked back.
As the race moved into the night, the #8 car established an ever-stronger grip at the front, edging clear of the #7. In the sixth hour, the lead was reduced slightly when a replacement steering wheel was required for the #8, following occasional gearshift issues. That cost only a few seconds at a scheduled pit stop, which rectified the problem.
Kazuki took the wheel of the #8 car for the final stint, and his last laps in WEC. A journey which started with the roll-out of the TS030 HYBRID in January 2012, ended when Kazuki took the chequered flag to win by 7.351secs from Jose, whose second place delivered another world title to the #7 crew.
The racing season may have ended but the action in Bahrain continues on Sunday, when seven-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Ogier will drive a GR010 HYBRID for the first time in the WEC rookie test. Rising LMP2 star Charles Milesi will also test for the team.
Statement from Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota Motor Corporation
Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota Motor Corporation, commented stating that: “First of all, congratulations on the team championship! We won all six races in the first year of Hypercar and were able to run through with the tremendous efforts of the drivers and team. I am grateful that these two cars have become champion cars. To Kamui, Mike, and José, congratulations on winning Le Mans and the Drivers’ Championship. It is very nice! Thanks to the partners who supported the battle in the new Hypercar class and the fans who continued to support us. Thank you for fighting with us this season.”
Press Release received on Mail
