Toyota Gazoo Racing set for Spa spectacle
Toyota Gazoo Racing will take on a record Hypercar field at one of motorsport’s most spectacular circuits this week. The 6 Hours of Spa will be the last stop for the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship before the centenary edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours.
A field of 13 Hypercars will face off in Belgium, with World ChampionsToyota Gazoo Racing targeting a third successive victory, following on from Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa’s victory earlier this month in Portimão, in their No8 GR010 Hybrid. Their dominant performance elevated the crew to the top of the drivers’ standings, but Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi José María López in the No7 GR010 Hybrid are only 13 points behind, despite suffering misfortune and a ninth place finish in Portimão.
Spa is one of the world’s most celebrated circuits. It has a rich endurance racing heritage and was part of the first World Championship calendar in 1953. Toyota Gazoo Racing has written its name in the Spa history books; in its 10 previous WEC races at the track, the team has earned seven wins, including last year’s victory for the No7 GR010 Hybrid. It is unbeaten there in the Hypercar era.
The 4.6-mile circuit in the Ardennes forest is famous for its unpredictable weather and combination of high-speed corners, which make it a favourite for fans and drivers alike. Toyota Gazoo Racing hopes for plenty of local support, with its Cologne base located about 75 miles away.
Two 90-minute practice sessions will take place on Thursday with a final free session on Friday morning prior to evening qualifying for the 38-car grid. The race will get under way at 12:45 local time on Saturday.
Team quotes
Kamui Kobayashi (Team Principal and driver car No7): “Spa is a very important race for us, because it’s our final step before Le Mans, which is our big target as always. It is also a home race for the team and we are looking forward to seeing plenty of colleagues and their families from our factory in Cologne during the event. There is always a great crowd at Spa and I am sure this year it will be even more impressive because of the big fight in Hypercar. Our competition is getting stronger with every race, and some will have additional cars in Spa, so it will be a tough task for the team and drivers. Spa is an amazing circuit, but a lot can happen on this track, so we have to be at the top of our game to get everything right with set-ups and tyres, and to avoid mistakes. It is the ideal preparation for Le Mans in many ways, and a strong result would be the perfect way to get ready for the Centenary race.”
Mike Conway (driver, car No7): “Spa is always a good event, I love the place. We will go in there with confidence but there are still a lot of unknowns this early in the season. I am sure we have the potential for another strong result there but there are more Hypercars than ever on the grid. In terms of our competition, we are approaching things on a race-by-race basis because the situation can change rapidly. This is the final race before the big one, so it’s important that we leave Spa with a good result and plenty of confidence going into Le Mans.”
José María López (driver, car No7): “Spa is a very special place and a fantastic track to drive, one of the best. We usually have a good race there, but the weather can be a big challenge. You never know what it is going to be like and some years we have experienced all the seasons in one day. That’s a big test for the team, the drivers and our strategies. On top, this is the race just before Le Mans so it’s important to do everything right, test everything and prepare ourselves 100 per cent.”
Sébastien Buemi (driver, car No8): “I really enjoy Spa because it’s a high-speed, old-school track with not much run-off, and I have had some great races there in the past. I have won five times in WEC, so obviously I am hoping to make it six this year. The main points at Spa are the weather and the tyre management; these will be key factors. Tyre degradation will be very important because we are obliged to do a double stint on the same tyres and this is not easy.”
Brendon Hartley (driver, car No8): “I think every driver looks forward to going to Spa; it’s in everyone’s top-five tracks. It’s a beautiful place with big elevation changes and a lay-out that flows very nicely. It also has an incredible history in endurance racing and there is always a big crowd, so it’s a special place. The Spa weather is legendary, and we have little experience with our updated GR010 Hybrid on the new rain tyres, so if it does rain there are a few unknowns. That would be another step in our final Le Mans preparations.”
Ryo Hirakawa (Driver, car No8): “I like Spa but I haven’t driven any racing laps there yet in the GR010 Hybrid. Last year we had an issue in the race before my stint, so I am looking forward to finally driving this car there in a race. It’s going to be another challenging event, I’m sure, because our competition is getting stronger at every race and we never know what the weather will be at Spa. This is an important race to be ready for Le Mans so we are focused on getting a strong result and being perfectly prepared.”
