WEC – 6 a.m. from Spa: Toyota wants to drive the point home

Forty-four points on the clock, a pole, a double, the Toyota Racing could hardly have dreamed of a better start to the season at the 6 Hours of Silverstone. Also a good way to gain confidence before the 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 14-15). But before that, the men of technical director Pascal Vasselon will be keen to shine this weekend, in Belgium, at the 6 Hours of Spa, on a track located just 120 km from Cologne (Germany), headquarters of TMG (Toyota). Motorsport GmbH). “I am sure it will be another exciting race after the close and indecisive fight we experienced at Silverstone, underlines Yoshiaki Kinoshita, the president of the team. It?s very good for the championship. We have had success in Britain but Spa is another race. We will therefore have to give everything to achieve maximum performance and continue our good start to the season. We are motivated and ready to attack. »

In Le Mans aero configuration, just like the Porsche 919 Hybrid and l'Audi R18 e-tron quattro n°3, the two TS040 Hybrids will be entrusted to the trios Alexander Wurz-Kazuki Nakajima-Stéphane Sarrazin and Sébastien Buemi-Nicolas lapierre-Anthony Davidson. “Silverstone was an important step for the team, and not just because of the result, continues Wurz. We were able to learn a lot about the TS040 Hybrid and how to get the most out of it. We will have to concentrate and take our time to do things if we want to fight at the front. » His teammate Stéphane Sarrazin makes no secret of it, he openly dreams of a new double. “It seems that the three LM P1 manufacturers are very close in terms of performance, so we can expect another big fight. At Silverstone, it was nice to get on the podium with our teammates from the No. 8 car. The objective at Spa is obviously to achieve a similar result. I'm sure we can do it. »

Championship leader, Anthony Davidson is pleased to be ?still riding the momentum from the Silverstone victory, so it?s good that there?s only a short break between the two races. We've had the best possible start to the season and that really gives us confidence. » His companion Nicolas Lapierre admits to being “determined to relive that feeling. » The last man in the crew, the Swiss Sébastien Buemi, is pleased to know that the “TS040 Hybrid has the necessary level to win races, but our competitors are very close. We will do our best to win again this weekend. » Problem and not the least, Porsche and especially Audi Don't hear it that way.

Find in your AUTO magazinehebdo n ° 1958, available here in digital version and from tomorrow, Wednesday, in all newsstands, a exclusive file on the first tests of the Rebellion R-One, who will make his racing debut this weekend at the 6 Hours of Spa.