Le Mans Agony for Toyota GAZOO Racing
2017年6月19日 - 9:40AM
JCN Newswire (英)
Toyota GAZOO Racing endured a painful Le Mans 24 Hours in which
two of its TS050 Hybrids did not reach the chequered flag while the
remaining car finished ninth.
Hopes were high of a first Toyota win at Le Mans when the pole
position-winning #7 TS050 Hybrid of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi
and Stephane Sarrazin led for the opening 10 hours but it retired
at 1:15am following a clutch problem.
The #8 of Sebastien Buemi, Anthony Davidson and Kazuki Nakajima had
also been in contention for the victory for almost eight hours
until an issue on the front motor cost it almost two hours in the
pits. It rejoined and finished ninth, setting the fastest lap late
in the race.
An accident put the #9 of Nicolas Lapierre, Yuji Kunimoto and Jose
Maria Lopez out just minutes after the #7 stopped, when it was hit
from behind by an LMP2 car, causing a puncture and damaging the
hydraulics. That left the car unable to shift gear and it retired
on track just a few hundred metres from the pits at 1:35am.
The race, round three of the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship
(WEC), was won by the #2 Porsche from the #38 and #13 ORECA LMP2
cars, following a technical issue for the #1 Porsche, which retired
from an 11-lap lead.
It represented a bitterly disappointing end to a race which the
team had begun with strong hopes of a first Toyota victory at Le
Mans in 19 appearances since its debut in 1985.
Thursday had seen Kamui Kobayashi set the fastest-ever lap of the
Circuit de la Sarthe, beating the average speed record that had
stood for 32 years. The team also went into the race as drivers'
and manufacturers' World Championship leaders following victories
in the first two WEC races of the season.
But Le Mans, which is a double-points race, has proved costly in
World Championship terms too. Porsche has taken a 36.5-point lead
in the manufacturers' standings, while the #8 drivers, the
highest-placed Toyota crew, have dropped to second, 21 points away
from the leading #2 Porsche drivers.
Le Mans regulations mean the retired cars are returned to teams
only after the race, so work begins immediately to understand in
precise detail the damage suffered by the #7 and #9 cars, while
analysis is already underway on the #8 issue.
The team will regroup and return to WEC action more determined than
ever when the series continues with the 6 Hours of Nurburgring on
16 July.
Toshio Sato, Team President:
"The whole team is devastated by what happened here, after all the
hard work and effort over the last months to come to Le Mans with
such a competitive car. Our pace was very good all week and we were
leading a tough fight with Porsche. The drivers, engineers and
mechanics performed superbly this week and I would like to thank
them. Of course, we sincerely congratulate Porsche on their victory
because undoubtedly they deserved to win today. For Toyota, we must
leave Le Mans again without the winner's trophy, despite the
amazing support from the fans here. We will analyse what went wrong
because we cannot accept a double retirement like that during the
night. We will come back stronger and more determined than ever;
our Le Mans challenge will continue."
TS050 Hybrid #7 (Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, Stephane
Sarrazin)
Race: DNF, 154 laps, 12 pit stops. Grid: 1st. Fastest lap: 3min
18.694secs
Mike Conway:
"The race started off well with good pace and we were controlling
it from the front. Unfortunately we had the issue which took us out
of the race very quickly; from having no hint of trouble to
retiring so quickly was tough to see. It was a real pity and to see
the other Toyotas have problems around the same time is just
massively disappointing. We were hoping at least one of us would be
on the top step of the podium today but it wasn't to be."
Kamui Kobayashi:
"It is very disappointing because I thought it was going to be our
day because we were quick and we felt we were controlling the race.
Again we found out how hard it is to win Le Mans. Big thanks to the
team who put so much effort into this race. It is not only about
speed, because we had that but in the end we missed the win. We
just have to come back and go for the win again next year."
Stephane Sarrazin:
"It's just incredible. We had such a good car; all week we were
impressed by the balance and efficiency. The team did an amazing
job in the winter, so here to have three cars out of the game is
unbelievable; it doesn't seem possible. This race doesn't want to
come to us for some reason. It is a very demanding race, as you saw
with Porsche #1 stopping. We never give up and we will come back
strong; and we need to believe we can do it."
TS050 Hybrid #8 (Sebastien Buemi, Anthony Davidson, Kazuki
Nakajima)
Race: 9th, 358 laps, 27 pit stops. Grid: 2nd. Fastest lap: 3min
18.604secs
Sebastien Buemi:
"I don't know where to start. We lost a lot of points for the
championship and that's what you think of when the victory is out
of reach. Hopefully we still have a chance to fight for the World
Championship. I would like to say thank you to the team, especially
the mechanics who worked very hard. I feel sorry for everyone. The
only thing we can do now is focus on the rest of the season."
Anthony Davidson:
"It's so disappointing to drive so many laps in such a great car
for no meaningful reward. That's all I was thinking later in the
race when I was setting fast laps and closing down the other cars
but the gap was too big after the problem. Once again Porsche did a
great job. We won't give up; we've proved that by coming here with
such a good car this year which gives me faith in the team that we
will do it one day."
Kazuki Nakajima:
"It was a tough race for the whole team as it always seems to be
here. I have no words really; we just need to try again next year.
We had the car and the speed but we missed something else. So many
things happened to us despite all the hard work and preparation; it
was not enough I guess. Next year we have to try even harder,
prepare better and fight harder."
TS050 Hybrid #9 (Nicolas Lapierre, Yuji Kunimoto, Jose Maria
Lopez)
Race: DNF, 160 laps, 13 pit stops. Grid: 5th. Fastest lap: 3min
19.321secs
Nicolas Lapierre:
"It was a very hard race for us with a lot of misfortunate. We had
a few smaller issues earlier in the race which cost some time but
we were running a strong second and back in the fight. In turn one
I was hit by an LMP2 who hit the back of me due to the normal fuel
cut; there was nothing we could do about it. It was the beginning
of the track so it was impossible to get back to the pits. It was
very, very disappointing."
Yuji Kunimoto:
"My first Le Mans was a tough and frustrating race. I was really
enjoying the experience and we looked quite strong until the
problem. When I saw the car had stopped I was so disappointed
because the whole crew worked so hard to be ready for this. The
team and my co-drivers did a good job; thank you to them. I wanted
to get a good result for them but it was a very difficult race. Now
I just want to come back and race again at Le Mans."
Jose Maria Lopez:
"We knew when we came here that it is a cruel race. There is a lot
of work goes into this and we came here with a lot of strength. At
this moment I only think about coming back next year stronger. We
will fight this race and show we are strong enough. I am proud of
everyone in the team, the mechanics, engineers and my team-mates.
They did a fantastic job. I have no regrets."
Le Mans 24 Hours results:
1st - #2 Porsche (Bernhard / Bamber / Hartley) - 367 laps
2nd - #38 Jackie Chan DC (Tung / Laurent / Jarvis) - +1 lap
3rd - #13 Rebellion (Piquet / Heinemeier Hansson / Beche) - +3
laps
4th - #37 Jackie Chan DC (Cheng / Gommendy / Brundle) - +4 laps
5th - #35 Alpine (Panciatici / Ragues / Negrao) - +5 laps
6th - #32 United Autosports (Owen / De Sadeleer / Albuquerque) - +5
laps
9th - #9 Toyota GAZOO Racing - +9 laps
About Toyota
Supported by people around the world, Toyota Motor Corporation
(TSE:7203; NYSE:TM), has endeavored since its establishment in 1937
to serve society by creating better products. As of the end of
December 2013, Toyota conducts its business worldwide with 52
overseas manufacturing companies in 27 countries and regions.
Toyota's vehicles are sold in more than 170 countries and regions.
For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com.
Source: Toyota
Contact:
Public Affairs Division
Global Communications Department
Toyota Motor Corporation
Tel: +81-3-3817-9926
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