The 6 Hours of Fuji - the penultimate race of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season, and this time, a homecoming celebration for Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Picture this: a record-breaking crowd of 54,700 fans gathered at Fuji Speedway, setting the stage for one of the most thrilling races in recent memory. It's a tale of Toyota versus Porsche in the Hypercar category, and boy, did it deliver.
The heroes of the day? None other than Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and José María López, steering the #7 GR010 HYBRID to a glorious victory. But let's not forget Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa, who brought the #8 GR010 HYBRID home in second place, just 39.119 seconds behind their teammates. Talk about a one-two punch!
Now, it's not just about the race; it's about the championship. Toyota Gazoo Racing clinched the manufacturers' title in style, marking their fifth consecutive manufacturers' World Championship. That's a feat worth celebrating.
But let's dive into the race itself. It was a rollercoaster from the very start. Mike Conway found himself pushed down to third place, and Sébastien Buemi, well, he had a rather chaotic encounter with a certain #50 Ferrari at turn one, which sent him tumbling to sixth. Not the smoothest of beginnings, right?
But this is where the magic of endurance racing comes into play. After a first-lap safety car period, the GR010 HYBRIDs began their ascent. Mike fought his way back up the ranks, and Sébastien overtook the #2 Cadillac to reclaim his territory. The battle was on!
The real showdown, however, happened at the front. It was a nail-biting tussle between Toyota Gazoo Racing and Ferrari, with our GR010 HYBRIDs emerging victorious. Mike and Sébastien showcased their prowess, leaving the Ferraris in their rearview mirrors. And when the leading #6 Porsche made a pit stop for fuel, the #7 Toyota took the lead, and the #8 followed suit.
Fast forward to the two-hour mark, and we witnessed some scintillating action. José María López went all out, setting the fastest lap of the race and closing in on that pesky #6 Porsche. Ryo Hirakawa joined the party, narrowing the gap in the #8 car. The top three were practically bumper to bumper!
José was relentless in his pursuit of the leader, and soon, it was a nail-biting three-way dance at the front. Ryo threw his hat in the ring, delivering a string of blistering laps. Eventually, he made a daring move, passing José before executing a bold overtake for the lead. Talk about high-stakes drama!
The final driver changes added another layer of excitement. Brendon Hartley took the reins in the #8 car, while Kamui Kobayashi was right on his tail. Kamui, the speed demon, wasted no time in snatching the lead, and Brendon had to fend off some brief pressure from the #6 Porsche.
As the race hurtled towards its climax, Kamui kept his cool, controlled the proceedings, and took the checkered flag after 229 heart-pounding laps. That's right, Toyota Gazoo Racing secured their ninth win in 10 races at Fuji Speedway, extending their unbeaten streak since 2016. Meanwhile, Brendon Hartley brought the #8 car home in a well-deserved second place.
And the celebrations weren't limited to the racetrack; Toyota President and Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe Chairman Koji Sato joined the victorious drivers on the podium, toasting to a hard-earned victory and a world title.