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Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Toyota Storms To Sao Paulo WEC Pole
Alex Wurz gives Toyota first pole in only third FIA World Endurance Championship race; Starworks (LMP2), AMR (GTE-Pro), AF Corse (GTE-Am) take class poles in Brazil...
Toyota scored its first pole in the FIA World Endurance Championship Friday at Interlagos. (Photo: John Dagys)
Since its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans just three months ago, Toyota's TS030 Hybrid has shown promising pace and the potential to be a serious contender to LMP1 rival Audi.
That potential was solidified Friday at Interlagos, as Alex Wurz gave the Japanese manufacturer its first pole in only its third outing in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Wurz laid down a best time of 1:22.363 in the strategic 20-minute qualifying session, which saw the pair of Audis immediately go out to set their times, but the single Toyota wait in the pits.
The No. 7 Toyota did not venture onto the 2.67-mile circuit until the second half, with Wurz's pole-winning lap coming with just four minutes remaining on the clock.
"I'm very pleased to bring home this pole position," said Wurz, who will share driving duties with Nicolas Lapierre. "At the beginning of the project, we said that if we can get a pole in year one, it would be a dream.
"For the hybrid technology and the car being made in a very short amount of time and against the clock, It was a big fight. I'm extremely happy and proud of it."
Wurz's lap was a considerable 0.784 seconds quicker than the best of the Audis, that being local favorite Lucas Di Grassi in the No. 2 R18 ultra, who appeared to be en route to a fairytale pole in his sports car debut.
However, with neither Audi having time to respond to Wurz's late flyer, it was not to be for the German manufacturer, which will roll off second and third in tomorrow's Six Hours of Sao Paulo.
Both Audis -- the No. 2 machine of Di Grassi and co-drivers Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen as well as the No. 1 R18 e-tron quattro driven by Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer, could still hold the upper hand though, as their Audi diesels are expected to make one fewer fuel stop than the gasoline-powered Toyota.
What will that mean for Wurz and Lapierre?
"For us, it means that every lap [will be] maximum attack and flat out," Wurz said. "Traffic management, I think, will be the deciding factor. We have to make the time difference on track. If we don't do so, then we will hand the big chance to Audi."
Rebellion Racing wound up the quickest of the LMP1 privateers in fourth, thanks to Neel Jani's 1:23.962 lap in the No. 12 Lola B12/60 Toyota. He edged out the No. 21 Strakka Racing HPD ARX-03a of Danny Watts by 0.127 seconds, who wound up fifth overall.
LMP2 saw Starworks Motorsport score its first outright pole in the FIA WEC, with Stephane Sarrazin peddling the team's HPD ARX-03b to a best time of 1:27.048.
Like Toyota, the Peter Baron-led Starworks crew elected to keep the Frenchman in the pits until the final 10 minutes. While unable to improve on his first flying lap, it held as quickest in the highly competitive 11-car field.
"The team did a great job; they gave me a really good car," said Sarrazin, who will share the wheel with Enzo Potolicchio and Ryan Dalziel. "Since the beginning of the weekend, we've been at the top of the class, but it's been very close. This morning, I was not so happy. I was missing grip. We changed many things in qualifying and it went well so it's good for the race."
The pole gave Starworks another point in their championship quest, which saw their lead slightly dwindle at Silverstone to class winners ADR-Delta, which qualified second on Friday. John Martin recorded a 1:27.153 lap time in his No. 25 Oreca 03-Nissan.
The No. 26 Signatech Oreca 03 Nissan of Nelson Panciatici will roll off third, followed by the quickest of the OAK Racing Morgan-Nissans, the No. 35 entry of Bertrand Baguette in fourth.
PHOTOS: FIA WEC Six Hours of Sao Paulo
That potential was solidified Friday at Interlagos, as Alex Wurz gave the Japanese manufacturer its first pole in only its third outing in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Wurz laid down a best time of 1:22.363 in the strategic 20-minute qualifying session, which saw the pair of Audis immediately go out to set their times, but the single Toyota wait in the pits.
The No. 7 Toyota did not venture onto the 2.67-mile circuit until the second half, with Wurz's pole-winning lap coming with just four minutes remaining on the clock.
"I'm very pleased to bring home this pole position," said Wurz, who will share driving duties with Nicolas Lapierre. "At the beginning of the project, we said that if we can get a pole in year one, it would be a dream.
"For the hybrid technology and the car being made in a very short amount of time and against the clock, It was a big fight. I'm extremely happy and proud of it."
Wurz's lap was a considerable 0.784 seconds quicker than the best of the Audis, that being local favorite Lucas Di Grassi in the No. 2 R18 ultra, who appeared to be en route to a fairytale pole in his sports car debut.
However, with neither Audi having time to respond to Wurz's late flyer, it was not to be for the German manufacturer, which will roll off second and third in tomorrow's Six Hours of Sao Paulo.
Both Audis -- the No. 2 machine of Di Grassi and co-drivers Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen as well as the No. 1 R18 e-tron quattro driven by Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer, could still hold the upper hand though, as their Audi diesels are expected to make one fewer fuel stop than the gasoline-powered Toyota.
What will that mean for Wurz and Lapierre?
"For us, it means that every lap [will be] maximum attack and flat out," Wurz said. "Traffic management, I think, will be the deciding factor. We have to make the time difference on track. If we don't do so, then we will hand the big chance to Audi."
Rebellion Racing wound up the quickest of the LMP1 privateers in fourth, thanks to Neel Jani's 1:23.962 lap in the No. 12 Lola B12/60 Toyota. He edged out the No. 21 Strakka Racing HPD ARX-03a of Danny Watts by 0.127 seconds, who wound up fifth overall.
LMP2 saw Starworks Motorsport score its first outright pole in the FIA WEC, with Stephane Sarrazin peddling the team's HPD ARX-03b to a best time of 1:27.048.
Like Toyota, the Peter Baron-led Starworks crew elected to keep the Frenchman in the pits until the final 10 minutes. While unable to improve on his first flying lap, it held as quickest in the highly competitive 11-car field.
"The team did a great job; they gave me a really good car," said Sarrazin, who will share the wheel with Enzo Potolicchio and Ryan Dalziel. "Since the beginning of the weekend, we've been at the top of the class, but it's been very close. This morning, I was not so happy. I was missing grip. We changed many things in qualifying and it went well so it's good for the race."
The pole gave Starworks another point in their championship quest, which saw their lead slightly dwindle at Silverstone to class winners ADR-Delta, which qualified second on Friday. John Martin recorded a 1:27.153 lap time in his No. 25 Oreca 03-Nissan.
The No. 26 Signatech Oreca 03 Nissan of Nelson Panciatici will roll off third, followed by the quickest of the OAK Racing Morgan-Nissans, the No. 35 entry of Bertrand Baguette in fourth.
PHOTOS: FIA WEC Six Hours of Sao Paulo
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