TOYOTA GAZOO Racing scores points in Austin despite extreme conditions

The WEC’s return to the Circuit of the Americas turned into a real challenge for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. With persistent rain, a treacherous track and multiple race interruptions, both GR010 HYBRIDs faced a turbulent race. Nevertheless, the #8 crew of Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa managed to hold firm, finishing ninth and securing valuable championship points.

Tense qualifying sessions
The weekend started positively for the #8: Ryo Hirakawa performed brilliantly in changing weather to qualify for Hyperpole, ultimately securing 10th place on the grid despite intermittent rain and risky tyre choices. On the other hand, the #7 car driven by Kamui Kobayashi, José María López and Nyck de Vries struggled in the tricky conditions and could do no better than 18th.

In Hyperpole, Hirakawa clocked the 8th fastest time, with increasing rain in the closing minutes preventing further improvement.

A race filled with interruptions
The start of the race was heavily delayed by weather conditions: nearly two hours of stoppage, including an extended Safety Car period and a red flag. Once racing got underway, Brendon Hartley (#8) and Nyck de Vries (#7) managed to stay out of trouble in a chaotic opening phase.

Nyck quickly climbed into the top 10, but the rest of the race proved more difficult for the #7. Despite José María López’s efforts, an off-track excursion into the gravel triggered a Safety Car. Kamui Kobayashi later took the wheel but wasn’t able to regain ground, eventually finishing 14th, four laps down.

In the #8, Buemi jumped in for the final stint after a challenging middle section for Ryo Hirakawa, who was spun around after contact with an LMGT3 car. Buemi drove a solid final phase, maintaining ninth position until the chequered flag.

All eyes on Fuji
Though the final result fell short of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s usual expectations, the team remains determined to bounce back. Next stop: the 6 Hours of Fuji, the squad’s home race, on 28 September, with a clear goal to return to the podium in front of the Japanese fans.