Robert Kubica’s «crucial» stint puts WRT on cusp of title
The #41 WRT ORECA 07 shared by Kubica, Louis Deletraz and Rui Andrade dropped from second to sixth early on after Andrade was hit by the #23 United Autosports entry of Josh Pierson, an offence for which Pierson was slapped with a 10-second time penalty. While the incident put the #41 crew on the back […]
Toyota says Ferrari held back by driver inconsistency at Fuji
The Japanese marque’s technical director Pascal Vasselon made the comment after wrapping up the 2023 manufacturers’ title with a 1-2 finish on home turf, having overcome a stiff challenge from Porsche. By contrast, the two Ferrari 499Ps finished a lap down in fourth and fifth on what was the Prancing Horse’s least competitive showing since […]
Why Quintarelli is pumped up for Sugo
With three races left on the 2023 calendar, the battle for title honours is really hotting up with the respective leading crews from Nissan, Toyota and Honda all occupy the top three spots in the drivers’ standings. That follows an action-packed Suzuka race in which Honda finally broke its victory duck, and NISMO duo Quintarelli […]
Corvette drivers say «questionable» penalties cost Fuji WEC win
Corvette was in the hunt for victory for much of the six-hour Japanese enduro, with the team’s sole C8.R enjoying multiple stints in the lead after Keating qualified the car on pole position. However, Keating had to come into the garage to get the right-hand side door replaced after he was involved in a collision […]
Ferrari’s WEC deficit to Toyota no greater at Fuji than Monza
It made the claim despite its two 499P Le Mans Hypercars trailing home in fourth and fifth positions, a lap down on the Toyota GR010 HYBRIDs that blocked out the top two positions. “There is a status quo; this position is more of less the same from after the Le Mans 24 Hours,” said Giuliano […]
Proton denied shot at beating Ferrari by “freak” belts issue
In only its second outing in the WEC’s top Hypercar class with the Porsche 963, Proton proved competitive as the car shared by Jani and team-mates Harry Tincknell and Gianmaria Bruni ran in the top five just shy of the two-hour mark. However, the team’s hard work was undone when Tincknell came in after his […]
Porsche’s Vanthoor knew start was only chance to threaten Toyota in Fuji
Vanthoor managed to wrest the lead of the six-hour race away from home favourite Toyota with a bold move up the inside of poleman Mike Conway at the very start of the race. With both Toyotas being compromised, dropping the two GR010 HYBRIDs that had locked out the front row down the order, Vanthoor was […]
Toyota sees off Porsche challenge for victory
The #7 Toyota GR010 HYBRID of Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Jose Maria Lopez took the chequered flag 39 seconds clear of the sister #8 car shared by Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa and Sebastien Buemi, as the Japanese manufacturer celebrated its ninth WEC win at Fuji in 10 attempts. Porsche’s lead car, the #6 machine […]
Toyota credits «Kamui effect» for pole gap in Fuji WEC qualifying
Vasselon, technical director of Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe, put the Japanese driver’s advantage over team-mate Brendon Hartley down to his renowned qualifying pace and local knowledge of the Fuji Speedway. «He got everything right: the timing, the tyre preparation and the way he handled the circuit,» explained Vasselon. «We have seen at Fuji drivers who […]