The "intense" issues Toyota navigated for WEC title glory in Bahrain
Toyota continued an unbeaten run in Bahrain stretching back to 2017 in the World Endurance Championship title decider, as the #8 crew of Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa defended their Hypercar crown. But despite its cars finishing 1-2, the Japanese manufacturer had to navigate several issues after the #7 car was turned around at the first corner
There wasn’t really much doubt in Bahrain that Toyota was going to seal another World Endurance Championship drivers’ crown to go with the manufacturers’ title it took last time out in Fuji. If there was a question mark, it was over which of its two crews was going to make it five in a row for the Japanese manufacturer. The shame for a championship that hasn’t quite delivered the intended spectacle in the maiden season of its so-called golden age, the Le Mans 24 Hours excepted, was that any uncertainty was pretty much removed at the first corner.
As Sebastien Buemi accelerated out of the opening sequence of corners and up the hill to Turn 4 at the start of last Saturday’s Bahrain 8 Hours, he could see mayhem in his mirrors. The first corner dramas that he feared so much that he could barely sleep the night before affected team-mate Mike Conway rather than him. The #7 Toyota GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercar was tapped into a spin by a locked-up Cadillac V-Series.R LMDh with Earl Bamber at the wheel, and suddenly Buemi and team-mates Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa had a second hand on the end-of-season Hypercar championship trophy.
Valentino Rossi joins WEC LMGT3 ranks with BMW in 2024
Valentino Rossi joins WEC LMGT3 ranks with BMW in 2024 Valentino Rossi joins WEC LMGT3 ranks with BMW in 2024
Third Ferrari LMH receives approval as WEC issues 37-car entry list for 2024
Third Ferrari LMH receives approval as WEC issues 37-car entry list for 2024 Third Ferrari LMH receives approval as WEC issues 37-car entry list for 2024
Why Ferrari's Le Mans glory proved an outlier as Toyota dominated the WEC
Why Ferrari's Le Mans glory proved an outlier as Toyota dominated the WEC Why Ferrari's Le Mans glory proved an outlier as Toyota dominated the WEC
BMW squad Walkenhorst switches to Aston Martin for 2024 GTWCE
BMW squad Walkenhorst switches to Aston Martin for 2024 GTWCE BMW squad Walkenhorst switches to Aston Martin for 2024 GTWCE
Alpine: "Underestimated" Schumacher joining WEC team too good to pass up
Alpine: "Underestimated" Schumacher joining WEC team too good to pass up Alpine: "Underestimated" Schumacher joining WEC team too good to pass up
Kubica set to drive Ferrari hypercar in WEC 2024 after joining AF Corse
Kubica set to drive Ferrari hypercar in WEC 2024 after joining AF Corse Kubica set to drive Ferrari hypercar in WEC 2024 after joining AF Corse
Porsche pauses build of additional customer 963 LMDhs until mid-2024
Porsche pauses build of additional customer 963 LMDhs until mid-2024 Porsche pauses build of additional customer 963 LMDhs until mid-2024
Vanwall to change engine suppliers for WEC Hypercar in 2024
Vanwall to change engine suppliers for WEC Hypercar in 2024 Vanwall to change engine suppliers for WEC Hypercar in 2024
William Byron leads stout NASCAR contingent at Snowball Derby
William Byron leads stout NASCAR contingent at Snowball Derby William Byron leads stout NASCAR contingent at Snowball Derby
2024 F1 grid: What is next season's Formula 1 driver lineup?
2024 F1 grid: What is next season's Formula 1 driver lineup? 2024 F1 grid: What is next season's Formula 1 driver lineup?
10 things we learned from the 2023 MotoGP Valencia Grand Prix
10 things we learned from the 2023 MotoGP Valencia Grand Prix 10 things we learned from the 2023 MotoGP Valencia Grand Prix
Marquez "will raise the level" of Ducati's MotoGP competitiveness – Tardozzi
Marquez "will raise the level" of Ducati's MotoGP competitiveness – Tardozzi Marquez "will raise the level" of Ducati's MotoGP competitiveness – Tardozzi
Why Ferrari's Le Mans glory proved an outlier as Toyota dominated the WEC
Why Ferrari's Le Mans glory proved an outlier as Toyota dominated the WEC Why Ferrari's Le Mans glory proved an outlier as Toyota dominated the WEC
The "intense" issues Toyota navigated for WEC title glory in Bahrain
The "intense" issues Toyota navigated for WEC title glory in Bahrain The "intense" issues Toyota navigated for WEC title glory in Bahrain
Why the stars have aligned to bring Aston Martin back to the top class at Le Mans
Why the stars have aligned to bring Aston Martin back to the top class at Le Mans Why the stars have aligned to bring Aston Martin back to the top class at Le Mans
How Porsche ensured Toyota's WEC homecoming was anything but straightforward
How Porsche ensured Toyota's WEC homecoming was anything but straightforward How Porsche ensured Toyota's WEC homecoming was anything but straightforward
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.