TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s Home Streak Ends in Frustration at Fuji 6 Hours
Team Battles Through Tough Conditions and Late Penalties in Front of 65,800 Fans.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s six-year dominance on home soil came to a frustrating halt at the 2024 6 Hours of Fuji as both GR010 HYBRIDs faced significant challenges throughout the race. Despite an intense team effort, bold strategy, and a committed drive, the team saw one car forced to retire and the other drop out of podium contention due to a late penalty.
In front of a crowd of 65,800 passionate fans, the #8 GR010 HYBRID driven by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa seemed destined for a podium finish before a drive-through penalty in the final 16 minutes dropped them to 10th place. Meanwhile, the #7 car, piloted by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries, led with two hours to go but was forced to retire due to severe damage after an accident, effectively ending their World Championship hopes.
A Tough Start and Strategic Fightback
The race began with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing on the back foot from the very start. Sébastien Buemi in the #8 GR010 HYBRID slipped from second to fourth early on, while Mike Conway lost ground from his fourth-place grid position, falling to fifth. As the race wore on, tire degradation issues for the #7 car forced it to pit earlier than planned, allowing Nyck de Vries to take over and begin a strategic comeback.
Despite the early setbacks, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s fuel and tire strategy began to pay dividends. By the halfway mark, Nyck de Vries had overtaken rivals from BMW and Ferrari and eventually led the race after a pit stop exchange. Brendon Hartley in the #8 car also made significant progress, overtaking two Ferraris and positioning the team for a podium finish.
Late Setbacks and a Virtual Safety Car Blow
With two hours remaining, Kamui Kobayashi took over the #7 car, pushing hard for victory as TOYOTA GAZOO Racing found themselves in a strong strategic position. However, a virtual safety car in the fifth hour neutralized their advantage, allowing rival hypercars to pit with minimal time loss.
As the race neared its climax, both cars faced difficulties. The #7 car suffered rear suspension and bodywork damage following contact with the #5 Porsche, forcing the team to retire the car with one hour remaining. Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries’ World Championship aspirations came to an abrupt end.
The #8 car continued to battle and briefly held third place, but a drive-through penalty for an incident involving the leading #6 Porsche dashed their podium hopes. Ryo Hirakawa crossed the line in 10th place, 58.879 seconds behind the race winner.
Drivers Reflect on the Challenging Day
Kamui Kobayashi, Team Principal and driver of the #7 car, expressed his disappointment: “It was a very tough race. The second safety car put us in a difficult situation, and then we had contact with the Porsche which caused too much damage to repair. I feel sorry for our home fans who supported us so much.”
Mike Conway, also driving the #7, echoed the sentiment: “It’s obviously frustrating and not the result we wanted for our home fans and all the partners who support us here. We’ll do our best to come back fighting in the final race.”
Sébastien Buemi, reflecting on the #8’s drive, noted: “Without the drive-through penalty, we would have finished on the podium. It was a bit of a disaster, but we’ll regroup and come back stronger in Bahrain.”
Looking Ahead to Bahrain Showdown
Despite the difficult day at Fuji, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing remains focused on their ultimate goal — securing the manufacturers’ title at the season finale in Bahrain. With just 10 points separating them from leaders Porsche, the November 2 showdown promises to be a dramatic conclusion to the 2024 World Endurance Championship season.
Fuji 6 Hours – Race Result
1st: #6 Porsche Penske (Estre/Lotterer/Vanthoor) – 213 laps
2nd: #15 BMW M Team WRT (Vanthoor/Marciello/Wittmann) +16.601secs
3rd: #36 Alpine Endurance Team (Lapierre/Schumacher/Vaxiviere) +42.321secs
10th: #8 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +58.879secs
DNF: #7 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing
As the team turns its attention to Bahrain, the drivers and engineers at TOYOTA GAZOO Racing are determined to fight for the manufacturers’ championship and close out the season on a high.
