Toyota scores double at Silverstone

Disrupted by rain and Safety Cars, the first four-hour race in the history of the WEC did not deliver any surprising results. At least in LM P1.

If the gap at the finish between the two Toyota TS050 Hybrid is only 1”9, the victory goes to the n°7 of Mike conway-Kamui Kobayashi-José Maria Lopez, started from pole position. The podium is completed by the Rebellion #3 of Loïc duval-Pipo Derani-Nathanaël Berthon, who benefits in particular from the mechanical problems encountered by the sister car, but who has never represented a real threat to the Japanese.

#7 @Toyota_Hybrid @ pechito37 @kamui_kobayashi @Mikeconway26 takes Season 8 Opener win at @SilverstoneUK#4hSilverstone #WEC pic.twitter.com/rULHf1ppQZ

- WEC (@FIAWEC) September 1, 2019

Between wandering wheel, contact and leaving the road, the Ginettas were less visible. The first, the No. 5 of Robertson-Hanley-Orudzhev, finished fifth, five laps behind the first LM P2.

The latter, which is none other than the Oreca 07 of Cool Racing, which did not miss its WEC debut by taking victory. Alexandre Coigny slightly injured following the accident he suffered yesterday in ELMS, the No. 42 was led by a duo composed of Antonin Borga and Nicolas lapierre.

Cooooool! First WEC race, first victory for #42 @coolracingleman in LMP2 class! Congratulations, @Nico_Lapierre, #AntoninBorga!#4hSilverstone #WEC pic.twitter.com/0WM7aCsnpk

- WEC (@FIAWEC) September 1, 2019

Thanks to a final attack relay from Thomas Laurent, Signatech Alpine steals second place from Racing Team Nederland on the last lap, which offers its first podium in the World ChampionshipEndurance.

In GTE Pro, Ferrari was the favorite. But the No. 71 was forced to retire following contact with a Ginetta, and the No. 51 notably suffered a puncture. A boon for Porsche, who leaves England with a double led by the No. 91 of Lietz-Bruni, who preceded the No. 92 of the outgoing champions, Estre and Christensen. L'Aston Martin Vantage AMR No. 97 from Lynn-Martin completes the podium.

Best move of the #4HSilverstone so far by @Ale_PierGuidi who takes the lead in LMGTE-Pro with 55 minutes still to go. We want more! #WEC #4HSilverstone @FerrariRaces @AFCorse pic.twitter.com/7KoxKrOa8w

- WEC (@FIAWEC) September 1, 2019

Finally, François Perrodo and Emmanuel Collard made a convincing return to GTE Am, as they won alongside Nicklas Nielsen in the No. 488 AF Corse Ferrari 83 GTE. And this by dominating in particular the Aston Martin Vantage AMR of Dalla Lana-Gunn-Turner and the Ferrari 488 GTE n°70 MR Racing of Beretta-Ishikawa-Cozzolina, being third.

Find it in AUTO issue 2232hebdo, on sale Monday evening in digital version and Wednesday on newsstands, the analysis of the WEC at Silverstone by our special correspondent.