Photo : D.R. - TOYOTA MOTORSPORT

 

The team scored a third consecutive win in the event thanks to the #8 TS040 Hybrid of Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi, who extend their lead in the drivers’ World Championship. A perfect day for the team saw the #7, winner in Fuji for the past two seasons, finish close behind in second, with Alex Wurz, Stéphane Sarrazin and Kazuki Nakajima at the wheel. Both cars finished one lap ahead of the opposition as Toyota regained the lead of the manufacturers’ World Championship. Its third win of the season puts the team eight points clear of Audi. In the drivers’ standings, Anthony and Sébastien lead by 26 points over team-mate Nicolas Lapierre, who missed the Fuji race for personal reasons, with the third-placed crew of Audi #2 now trailing by 29 points.

Yoshiaki Kinoshita (Team President): “I am very proud of the team and drivers for this one-two finish in our home race. We have had some great days here at Fuji but this was even better than our previous victories. Many people have asked me if we feel extra pressure this weekend, as Fuji is our home race; actually we only feel extra support. So I would like to say a big thank you to all the fans, Fuji Speedway and our colleagues from TOYOTA who gave us such great encouragement all weekend. Our car was the most competitive this weekend and this is what we are pushing to achieve for the final three races of the season.”

Anthony Davidson (Toyota TS040 Hybrid n°8, Toyota Racing, LM P1-H, race winner): “It was an absolutely perfect race and a perfect weekend for everyone at Toyota Racing. That was a great job by all the team; we had the strongest car, the right strategy and great pit stops. First and second in our home race; it doesn’t get better than that. For the team to win here three times in a row now is pretty special. It extends our lead in the drivers’ World Championship and regains the lead in the manufacturers’, so you couldn’t ask for any more as a team. So big thanks to all and especially to the guys from Toyota Motor Corporation who have given us such great support this week.”

Sébastien Buemi (Toyota TS040 Hybrid n°8, Toyota Racing, LM P1-H, race winner): “To leave Fuji with a one-two and the lead of both World Championships is a very special feeling. At the start it was clearly a bit difficult to warm up the tyres so I was in the middle of a big fight; the first lap was quite crazy. After that we took control. It was a great job from Anthony and the whole team. Honestly, we didn’t expect to be so far ahead but it is the result of a lot of hard work. We’ll enjoy this moment but quickly focus on the remaining races. Today’s result is a good sign for the rest of the season.”

(Based upon Toyota press information)

Photo: OYAMA (SHIZUOKA, JAPAN), FUJI INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY, 6 HOURS OF FUJI, SATURDAY OCTOBER 11, 2014, QUALIFYING. Anthony Davidson (left) and Sebastien Buemi won their thirs race in the 2014 FIA WEC after starting from pole.