Toyota Gazoo Racing is back in the winner’s circle, with the team clinching a thrilling victory at the recent 6 Hours of Imola endurance race despite a dominant Ferrari qualifying session.
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Marking their return to the winner’s circle, Toyota Gazoo Racing clinched a convincing victory at the 6 Hours of Imola during the second round of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), where Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries secured first place in the #7 GR010 Hybrid.
“It’s great to be back on the top step of the podium; it’s been a while for me. It’s nice to share that with my teammates, the performance was phenomenal, all the strategy calls were correct, every stint was strong, and no one put a foot wrong. They executed the race perfectly and I think we really deserve this victory.” said Nyck de Vries, driver of the #7 GR010 Hybrid.
Throughout the tumultuous race, plagued by evolving weather conditions, the team demonstrated resilience and strategic acumen, capitalising on well-timed pit stops to gain positions ahead of several podium-placed Ferraris which were representing the Prancing Horse on home soil. Despite challenging overtaking conditions on the narrow Imola circuit, both Toyota Gazoo Racing entries showed determination and skill to navigate through the field. (GR010 Hybrid #8 finished fifth.)
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In the final stages of the race, Kamui Kobayashi defended the lead under intense pressure, securing victory in Italy for the second consecutive year. Despite facing challenges, including tyre struggles and fierce competition, the team’s cohesive effort ultimately paid off with a well-deserved triumph.
“It was a very tough race and to win here is absolutely phenomenal. Our car was not the fastest this week, but the team performed so well. Mike and Nyck both did a fantastic job to bring the car into contention before I took over,” said Kamui Kobayashi, Team Principal and driver of the #7 GR010 Hybrid.
Kobayashi further adds that there was pressure in his stint which included slick tyres in the rain. The right strategy call resulted in a buffer gap that they managed until the end of the race.
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Thanks to the recent victory, Toyota Gazoo Racing has narrowed the gap (to Porsche) in the Manufacturers’ World Championship standings to only nine points, which, as a result, now sets the stage for a thrilling competition as they heading into the next round at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on May 11. The #7 GR010 Hybrid drivers currently sits second in the drivers’ standings, trailing the leaders Porsche by 16 points.
