Photo : CHRISTOPHE JOUNIAUX / VSA
Leader in the championship rankings after the first three rounds, Toyota Racing is only one point ahead of Audi, its biggest rival, on top of the world from its one-two in La Sarthe. Despite two stunning victories at Silverstone in the U.K. and at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, the Japanese manufacturer had to settle for the third step on the podium at Le Mans, which allowed Audi to nip at its heels.
In terms of drivers, on the other hand, Anthony Davidson, Nicolas Lapierre and Sébastien Buemi still possess a comfortable lead ahead of the winning trio at the 24 Hours of Le Mans - Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer. Their third place permitted them to gain 30 additional points and to conserve their 20-point lead, almost the equivalent of a victory (25 points), knowing that only the result at the 24 Hours carried double points.
With Audi, who gathered some steam in La Sarthe and Porsche, who is gaining increasing momentum, the end of the season will not be an easy ride for Toyota. The "Lone Star Le Mans", next WEC race, will take place at night at the Circuit of the Americas at Austin, Texas on September 20th.
Cécile Bonardel / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, WEDNESDAY JUNE 11 2014, FREE PRACTICE. Toyota Racing took to the track for tests at Magny-Cours.