Motorsports News

• Home
• Latest

• November 2018
• October 2018
• September 2018
• August 2018
• July 2018
• June 2018
• May 2018
• April 2018
• March 2018
• February 2018
• January 2018
• December 2017
• November 2017
• October 2017
• September 2017
• August 2017
• July 2017
• June 2017
• May 2017
• April 2017
• March 2017
• December 2016
• November 2016
• October 2016
• September 2016
• August 2016
• July 2016
• June 2016
• May 2016
• April 2016
• March 2016
• February 2016
• January 2016
• December 2015
• November 2015
• October 2015
• September 2015
• August 2015
• July 2015
• June 2015
• May 2015
• April 2015
• March 2015
• February 2015
• November 2014
• October 2014
• September 2014
• August 2014
• July 2014
• June 2014
• May 2014
• April 2014
• March 2014
• February 2014
• January 2014
• December 2013
• November 2013
• October 2013
• September 2013
• August 2013
• July 2013
• June 2013
• May 2013
• April 2013
• March 2013
• February 2013
• January 2013
• December 2012
• November 2012
• October 2012
• September 2012
• August 2012
• July 2012
• June 2012
• May 2012
• April 2012
• March 2012
• February 2012
• January 2012
• December 2011
• November 2011
• October 2011
• September 2011
• August 2011
• July 2011
• June 2011

A home event for a team means more pressure than usual, though Toyota are turning this into positive pressure and will be gunning for their second victory in this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

The team will see a return of Japanese driver Kazuki Nakajima who will drive with Alex Wurz and Nicolas Lapierre behind the wheel of the #7 TS030 Hybrid in the Six Hours of Fuji at the spectacular Fuji Speedway on Sunday.

Remarkably for a new car in its first season, the #7 Toyota Hybrid TS030 has led every race in which it has competed, recording its first victory in Brazil last month in only its third race.

Team President Yoshiaki Kinoshita said the entire team was “fired up” for this weekend’s event, particularly because the race car’s hybrid powertrain was developed very close to Fuji Speedway at the Higashi-Fuji Technical Centre.

“Our home race is a very special occasion for Toyota Racing and the team is extremely motivated to deliver a good result,” he said.

“To stand on the top step of the podium in Japan is a big dream for us, so everyone is fired up for this weekend.”

Lapierre, who is making only his second trip to Japan, said the privilege of racing in front of Toyota’s home fans was “positive pressure” to do well. Wurz said the extra pressure would be good for the team.

Nakajima knows the Fuji Speedway circuit very well, having raced there twice this year in the Super GT program – a Japanese series in which he has concentrated his efforts since helping Toyota Racing to its first podium finish at Silverstone in August.

During his absence, his teammates drove the Toyota Hybrid to victory in Sao Paulo and were in a strong position to repeat its success in Bahrain two weeks ago, but a technical issue cost several minutes before an accident ended its race.

Weather conditions are expected to be significantly cooler in Japan than the 37°C race-day heat experienced in Bahrain.

The 4.563km Fuji Speedway track has a rich history of endurance racing, having previously hosted the World Sportscar Championship from 1982 to 1988, as well as national sportscar events.

See the original post...

Copyright © All Vic Pty. Ltd. 2007-2024

Home | Features | Records | Online Store | Media | Careers | Contact Us