How Porsche ensured Toyota's WEC homecoming was anything but straightforward

The strongest showing to date by an LMDh car in the World Endurance Championship meant Toyota's 1-2 finish at Fuji wasn't the formality it appeared on paper. A notable improvement from Porsche meant the Japanese marque had to dig deep which bodes well for the future of competition between the two Hypercar platforms

Updated Sep 11, 2023, 3:51 PM

Toyota claimed a ninth victory in 11 starts at the Fuji 6 Hours in the modern era of the World Endurance Championship and duly wrapped up this year’s manufacturers’ title with a round to go. But it was far from business as usual as the home manufacturer swept to a 1-2.

Porsche led for a few minutes short of four hours and but for a strange procedural error might have taken second position last weekend. The significance wasn’t just that another brand is now in the thick of the battle; this was the first time that an LMDh car had challenged the Le Mans Hypercar hegemony.

comments

Author Gary Watkins

Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 32nd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 75 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.

Gary, who also writes for Autoweek, Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.