Toyota Gazoo Racing secure inaugural Hypercar title

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Toyota Gazoo Racing made endurance racing history yesterday as the first World Champions of the Hypercar era following their one-two victory in the FIA WEC Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit.

The result earned the team their fourth title in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), and its third in succession.

It also maintained the GR010 Hybrid Hypercar’s 100 per cent winning record in 2021, with one race remaining.

Focus now switches to the drivers’ title fight in next weekend’s Bapco 8 Hours of Bahrain.

The #7 crew of Mike Conway-Kamui Kobayashi-Jose Maria Lopez moved a significant step closer to retaining the World Championship they won in Bahrain 12 months ago.

Their third win of the season extends their advantage over the #8 drivers Sebastien Buemi-Kazuki Nakajima-Brendon Hartley to 15 points.

“I’m very happy with the win; it’s good to get maximum points and secure the World Championship for the team,” said Conway following yesterday’s race.

“It’s a positive day for us in the drivers’ championship but it’s still all to play for next week, so we need to work hard to clinch it.”

Added Kobayashi: “The team did a great job.

Congratulations to everyone on becoming Hypercar World Champions.”

Commented Buemi of their runner-up classification last night: “I am a competitor and we never like to finish second, but this was an amazing result for the team.

“For Toyota Gazoo Racing to finish first and second is a great way to wrap up the Hypercar title in its first season.

It comes from an enormous amount of hard work from the mechanics, the engineers and the entire team.

We have to congratulate them on this incredible achievement.”