Toyota wants to continue in Austin despite a more restrictive BoP

We left them on the top step of the podium in Brazil, they will want to return there in the United States. Toyota, with his two cars, had a very good weekend during the last round of the World ChampionshipEndurance (WEC), taking pole with the No. 8 and winning with the No. 7.

The Japanese team is second in the WEC Manufacturers' standings, four points behind Porsche. With two races to go before the end of the season, anything is still possible. As much as the team knows, the two layouts of Interlagos and COTA are quite similar: two counter-clockwise tracks, characterized by a steep climb to the first corner, followed by a series of fast turns.

The crews are a contrast of experienced drivers and novice drivers at this Austin track. In number 8 for example, Brendon Hartley – who won three times at COTA with Porsche between 2015 and 2017 – will be aligned with Ryo Hirakawa, who has never driven on the Texan track in his career. “Austin is a new circuit for me and I'm looking forward to it. It was good to experience the track already during private testing and it helped me get familiar with it, confides the Japanese, who took advantage of a day of testing at COTA at the beginning of August. It's a challenging and fun circuit to drive, especially the high speed section at the start of the lap. I think it will be an exciting race again. »

A spoilsport BoP for Toyota

However : the balance of performance (BoP) is more unfavorable to them than to São Paulo. The Japanese cars will gain 5 kilos in Austin, for a total weight of 1065kg, making them the heaviest hypercars on the grid. Toyota will also be at a disadvantage in terms of power up to 250 km/h, with a loss of 9 kW, becoming the only manufacturer to fall below the 500 kW mark with 497 kW of power. Nothing to dampen the confidence of Kamui Kobayashi, Team Principal and driver in the No. 7.

« I know the team has worked hard after the testing we did in July in Austin, which allowed us to optimize our cars to give ourselves the best possible chance, underlines the driver and team director. It's a new opportunity to score big points at the World Championship, that's our goal."

The loss of power is not necessarily a problem, especially since Toyota gains watts above 250 km/h like no other team. But the increase in weight raises the question: will the Japanese manage to manage their tires as well as in Brazil?

If the extra pounds and the high temperature of Texas are likely to change the situation a little, Sébastien Buemi Don't worry about it though: “It will be hot again in Austin, like during our testing last month, which will be a challenge in terms of tire management. Nevertheless, we showed in São Paulo that this is one of the strong points of our team, so I am full of hope again for this race”, says the Swiss.

ALSO READ > Jota – Cadillac, marriage of circumstances