Toyota Gazoo Racing Sets Blistering Pace in Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain Practice Sessions
In a display of formidable prowess, Toyota Gazoo Racing asserted their dominance at the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain, securing the top spots in both practice sessions of the World Endurance Championship (WEC). The #7 crew, comprising Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway, and Jose Maria Lopez, showcased their remarkable form, leading the way in their Toyota GR010 Hybrid. They were closely followed by their counterparts in the #8 Hybrid, driven by Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa, ensuring a Toyota one-two finish in both sessions.
The Toyota duo’s stellar performance in the dry 90-minute session was particularly impressive, with Kobayashi, Conway, and Lopez clocking a best lap time of an astounding one minute and 46.851 seconds. This marked an exceptional improvement from their performance in the rain-hit first practice session earlier in the day.
Buemi, Hartley, and Hirakawa were a mere 0.461 seconds behind, confirming Toyota’s unyielding dominance on the track. The Cadillac Racing’s #2 crew, featuring Earl Bamber, Alexander Lynn, and Richard Westbrook, clinched the third spot overall in their Cadillac V-Series.R Hybrid.
Hertz Team JOTA’s #38 Porsche 963 secured fourth place overall and stood out amongst the Hypercars. Porsche Penske Motorsport’s #6 car followed in fifth, with Peugeot TotalEnergies’ #94 Peugeot 9X8 claiming sixth position.
In the fiercely competitive LMP2 class, United Autosports’ #22 trio of Frederick Lubin, Philip Hanson, and Filipe Albuquerque continued to lead the pack, setting a best lap of 1:52.850.
The Kessel Racing’s #57 crew, featuring Takeshi Kimura, Esteban Masson, and Daniel Serra, showcased their dominance in the LMGTE Am category. They posted a fastest lap of 1:58.246 in their Ferrari 488 GTE Evo.
As the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain unfolds, anticipation builds for the qualifying sessions and the main race, promising further excitement and intense competition.
