TOYOTA GAZOO Racing: Le Mans 24 hours update 2

The #6 TS050 HYBRID of Stéphane Sarrazin, Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi leads the race at the Circuit de la Sarthe while the #5 is fighting for a podium position despite an unscheduled pit stop.

As the race developed, so the differing strategies began to play out. The greater efficiency of the TS050 HYBRIDs allowed both cars to run one additional lap compared to their rivals from Audi and Porsche.

That meant the #6 was leading the race more frequently, as the #1 Porsche pitted earlier for more fuel, and Kamui was increasing the pressure with his impressive pace, which included setting a new overall fastest lap.

That pressure eventually paid off and the #6 established itself as the overall leader while Anthony in the #5 pushed hard to recover from the tyre vibration issue which had forced him to make an extra pit stop at the four-hour mark. He eventually overcame the #8 Audi for fourth.

With their stints at an end shortly, Kamui handed the #6 to Stéphane in the lead while Kazuki took the wheel of the other car in fourth place as the seven-hour mark approached.

TS050 HYBRID #5 (Anthony Davidson, Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima)

Grid: 4th

Anthony Davidson: “So far luck hasn’t been on our side. We had the issue at the start of the race then I had a vibration on my brand new tyres at the start of my stint, and that meant I had to pit again after just one lap which was frustrating. It cost us a lot of time in the pits but that’s racing and we will keep pushing.”

TS050 HYBRID #6 (Stéphane Sarrazin, Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi)

Grid: 3rd

Kamui Kobayashi: “My stint went well and we showed strong pace. I think it is looking very tight at the front and there is still a long way to go. We can do one lap longer per stint which is positive for us. We have a good car and I think we can fight; that’s the most important thing.”