The Toyota Gazoo Racing team has completed a two-day shakedown at the Spa circuit in preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans which are played between June 11 and 12. The team based in Cologne has moved its two GR010 Hybrid prototypes to the Belgian track for this test of limited duration, since by regulations this type of test is limited to one hour of track work per daysince in the WEC sports regulations they are treated as a ‘special test’.
Taking into account the uniqueness of this test of one hour per day, Sébastien Buemi and Mike Conway were the only drivers to take control of the two Toyota GR010 Hybrids at Spa. In the end, this test session is to review the car’s systems and make final adjustments before moving the cars to Le Mans, so there is no time for all the team’s drivers to run the prototype. In 2021, those in charge of doing this shakedown were Kamui Kobayashi and Brendon Hartley.
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Toyota Gazoo Racing usually visits Spa to do this shakedown, something totally logical considering that the Belgian track is about 100 kilometers from the project headquarters in Germany.. Therefore, this test draws the start of the countdown to the dispute of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a test in which Toyota has the objective of achieving its fifth consecutive general victory. A triumph that would serve to leave behind the irregularity that Toyota has shown in the first two rounds of the WEC.
Carrying out a shakedown or a test to use prior to Le Mans is a common practice among the WEC teams. This week there are several structures that have been filmed at MotorLand Aragón. Among those present, highlights the participation of Team WRT with several of the Oreca with which he will compete in La Sarthe. Almost all the drivers of the Belgian structure have been able to shoot with the team’s LMP2, important circumstance for Dries Vanthoor, Rolf Ineichen and Mirko Bortolottidrivers who will make a ‘cameo’ at Le Mans, but who regularly compete in GT3 cars.
Other teams present at MotorLand have been Cool Racing after receiving chassis number 100 of the Oreca 07-Gibson last Friday and shooting briefly with this unit in Paul Ricard. Among the GTE, the dynamic is not different and AF Corse has also moved to the Spanish track to roll with your Factory Ferrari 488 GTE Evo with which it competes in the LMGTE-Pro category. A handful of GTEs enrolled in the LMGTE-Am class have also lapped on the track located in Alcañiz of the queen event of the WEC.
Source: SportsCar365
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Photos: Toyota Gazoo Racing