WEC: One-two for Toyota Racing at Silverstone

The 1000PS, four-wheel-drive TS040 Hybrid won its very first race in convincing fashion.

Toyota Racing made the perfect start to the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship season with a one-two finish from pole position in the Six Hours of Silverstone.
The 1000PS, four-wheel-drive TS040 Hybrid won its very first race in convincing fashion thanks to the #8 of Anthony Davidson, Nicolas Lapierre and Sébastien Buemi who take an early lead in the eight-race World Championship.
The #7 of Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Kazuki Nakajima completed Toyota Racing’s first-ever one-two finish, with a fine second place despite changing weather.
Track conditions varied from completely dry to torrential rain, which ultimately saw the race red flagged less than 30 minutes before the chequered flag.

Overall podium: race winners Anthony Davidson, Nicolas Lapierre, Sebastien Buemi, second place Alexander Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin, Kazuki Nakajima, third place Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley, Timo Bernhard

Photo by: Toyota Racing

Alex started from pole and held the advantage during an exciting opening lap which saw Sébastien move from fifth to third. The TS040 Hybrids were at the heart of the action with several position changes before rain came around the 40-minute mark. Both cars pitted for new tyres, the #7 taking wets and the #8 hybrid intermediates.

With the rain soon easing, hybrid intermediate tyres proved the most effective and Sébastien used his four-wheel drive hybrid system to good effect in building a comfortable lead.
Alex lacked grip on the wets so dropped to third and, after around 90 minutes, handed over the #7 to Kazuki, who switched to slicks for the rapidly-drying track. The #8 did likewise soon after when Nicolas took over from Sébastien.
Conditions remained dry, allowing Nicolas to firmly establish the #8 in the lead, with Kazuki tightening his grip on second in the #7 before swapping with Stéphane soon after the halfway point.

A safety car interrupted the drama briefly, during which time Anthony stepped into the race-leading #8.
Heavy rain hit the track with just over an hour remaining and the team responded by calling both cars in for wet tyres, whilst also swapping drivers; Kazuki replacing Stéphane in the #7 and Sébastien swapping with Anthony in the #8.
The safety car was deployed with 40 minutes left before the race was ended early, with further running impossible in the wet conditions. That confirmed Toyota Racing’s sixth win from 15 WEC races, its second consecutive victory following its triumph in the 2013 season finale in Bahrain.