TOYOTA Racing claimed its second consecutive win with a lights-to-flag victory in the Six Hours of Shanghai, the final round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Having won the last round at Fuji Speedway, the #7 TS030 HYBRID of Alex Wurz and Nicolas Lapierre started from pole position and won by 58.570secs.
Maximum points from the weekend elevated Alex and Nicolas to third place in the drivers’ world championship, despite only contesting six of the eight rounds.
A remarkable debut season has delivered three victories in six races as well as three pole positions and four fastest laps to highlight the impressive performance of the TS030 HYBRID and its innovative TOYOTA HYBRID System - Racing.
The hybrid system, using unique super capacitor energy storage technology, is charged in four designated hybrid recovery zones at the Shanghai International Circuit before delivering a 300hp power boost.
Today’s win also marks the first time a TOYOTA team has recorded consecutive victories in an FIA World Championship event since 1994, in the World Rally Championship.
The rolling start was unexpectedly the first action of the day as morning warm-up was cancelled after misty conditions in Shanghai prevented the medical helicopter reaching the circuit.
Nicolas was at the wheel for the start and led into turn one before rapidly stretching his advantage with a clear track in front of him, consistently pulling away throughout his double stint.
He handed over a half-minute lead to Alex who kept up the relentless speed, maintaining the strategy of fitting new tyres at each stop to maximise the TS030 HYBRIDs pace and seize control of the race by the half-distance mark.
Both drivers completed further double stints each, with Alex crossing the flag to take victory and secure a winning end to TOYOTA Racing’s very first season of competition.
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