24h Le Mans
The race did not unfold as Toyota would have hoped, that's for certain. The Japanese manufacturer was vying for victory all the more given last year's crushing disappointment five minutes from the checkered flag. Yet, this 85th edition amounted to another devastating blow for Toyota, with two retirements and a ninth place finish.
Three Toyota TS050 HYBRIDs were entered in the 85th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After a record time clocked by Kamui Kobayashi (3’14.791) in the #7 during qualifying, hopes were extremely high, as Sébastien Buemi (#8) confirmed at the press conference: "We kicked off the season well with two wins, including a one-two at Spa-Francorchamps. Meanwhile, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the most important race of the year. It will be a good thing to start from the front row. The car is ready for the race. The balance of the car is fantastic, I am really confident for the upcoming race."
Yet during the race, nothing happened as expected. Even though the Japanese cars dominated the proceedings during the first hours, the initial trouble began at 10:45 p.m. for the #8 with hybrid system problems. The result: more than an hour and a half lost in the garage. Shortly after that car returned to the track, the #7 experienced its own concerns in pit lane, and after having traveled three-quarters of the circuit at low speed, it stopped at the Porsche curves and retired due to a malfunctioning clutch at 1:06 a.m.
Ten minutes later, the #9 was struck near the Dunlop curve. With a flat left rear tire, Nicolas Lapierre attempted to return to his pit, but was forced to do a full lap at very reduced speed with several stops on the edge of the track, something the car did not handle well and a small fire even broke out near Arnage. The French driver managed to bring the car within 300 meters of the pits, but it could go no further. It was the second retirement for Toyota in less than an hour.
The #8, after its problems, continued its run with no new additional worries, but the damage had been done. Like the #2 Porsche, it achieved an impressive climb back...but it just wasn't enough. The car finished ninth overall, second in LMP1, and scored 12 precious points in the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) - a small consolation.
Toyota remains a good sport though as evidenced by the tweet below and of course hopes to return.
VIDEO: YouTube - Toyota Gazoo Racing
