Toyota stars thrilled with title successes

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

A perfect result in Bahrain was a fitting end to a successful season for Toyota Gazoo Racing, who now have a fifth world title double from 10 years in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Their two crowns in the Hypercar class add to a roll of honour in 2022 which includes a fifth consecutive Le Mans win and eighth victory at Fuji Speedway to go along with their onetwo in the Bapco 8 Hours of Bahrain on Saturday.

Sebastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley have written their names in the record books as the first drivers to win three titles in the top category of WEC or its predecessor, the World Sportscar Championship. Meanwhile, teammate Ryo Hirakawa, a Le Mans winner in June, capped a remarkable rookie season by becoming Japan’s third WEC champion.

“It’s amazing to win the World Championship this year,” said Buemi. “We maximised all the opportunities and doing the double of Le Mans and the title is an amazing feeling.

“We will enjoy this feeling and then look to next year which will be a really exciting one.” Added Hartley: “I am really pleased to complete the job here and win both World Championships.

I don’t think it has really sunk in yet that we are champions again, but I’m sure it will soon.

“We worked hard for this title and it is a credit to the whole team.” Said Hirakawa: “Today we achieved everything we wanted to, so I am very happy and I will enjoy this moment with the team, who really deserve it.

It doesn’t feel real yet, I need some time to get used to it.

“It has been challenging to race a Hypercar in WEC for the first time; everything was new to me.

I didn’t expect to win Le Mans and the World Championship in my first year so thanks a lot to the team and my teammates for helping me settle in and become stronger over the season.”