Whatshot
THRILLING FUJI WIN FOR TOYOTA
THRILLING FUJI WIN FOR TOYOTA
The no. 7 TS030 Hybrid had been quickest in all but one of the official sessions prior to the race and drivers Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima set the standard again in the race, setting the fastest lap in the process.
Victory by 11.223secs gave Kazuki the honour of becoming the first Japanese winner of an FIA world championship race since 1992 when Hitoshi Ogawa won a World Sportscar Championship race in the Toyota TS010 at Monza. It is Toyota's third win in world championship endurance racing, following that Monza win and victory in Sao Paulo earlier this season.
An exciting race with the no. 1 Audi was only settled in Toyota Racing's favour late in the race, giving an emotional win just a few kilometres from Higashi-Fuji Technical Centre, where the Toyota Hybrid System - Racing is developed.
The TS030 led from the start with Wurz, on the team's second pole position of the season, holding the advantage through turn one. Using the 190 kW boost from the Toyota Hybrid System - Racing, he set about pulling away from the pack.
The eighth and final round of the FIA World Endurance Championship takes place at the Shanghai International Circuit in China on 28 October. Wurz and Lapierre will drive the no. 7 TS030 Hybrid, with Kazuki competing in a Super GT race at Motegi.