Toyota Racing is the 2014 drivers’ and manufacturers’ World Champion after a successful conclusion to the FIA World Endurance Championship season in the Six Hours of Sao Paulo, at Interlagos.The eighth and final race of the season was a thrilling one, with the #8 TS040 Hybrid of World Champions Anthony Davidson and Sebastien Buemi finishing second after a late safety car halted a potentially-successful battle for victory.
The #7 of Alex Wurz, Stephane Sarrazin and Mike Conway were handed a harsh drive-through penalty which meant they finished fourth. That also dropped Alex and Stephane to fifth in the drivers’ championship.
But the focus was on the team result today, with Toyota ending a 15-year wait for a title, following the 1999 World Rally Championship triumph.
Today’s result marks a historic moment in sportscar racing history as it is the first time a Japanese manufacturer has won the World Endurance Championship in any of its guises since its inception in 1953.
It also marks a significant milestone for the Toyota Hybrid System – Racing. The project to pioneer a motorsport hybrid system began in 2006 and in July 2007 a Toyota Supra became the first-ever hybrid winner, in the Tokachi 24 Hours.
That pioneering super capacitor technology has been extensively developed, reducing weight and increasing power, leading to the 1,000 PS, four-wheel-drive TS040 Hybrid which has simultaneously reduced fuel consumption by 25% compared to 2013.
In the new efficiency-focused LMP1 regulations, Toyota technology has triumphed, with the TS040 Hybrid winning five of its eight races and taking four pole positions, 12 podium finishes and four fastest laps.
Nevertheless, that success has been far from easy and the team appreciates the close and fair competition from Audi and Porsche which has made the 2014 season exciting and very rewarding.
Toyota Racing would like to thank all its valued partners for their part in delivering both World Championships. DENSO inverters and hybrid motors, TOTAL lubricants, Aisin AW hybrid motors, Nisshinbo super capacitors, ZF clutches and Takata safety equipment all played a pivotal part in both World Championships.
Today’s race marked the end of an era in endurance racing as Tom Kristensen retired from the sport. What he has achieved is truly remarkable and everyone at Toyota Racing wishes him the very best in his racing retirement.
Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota Motor Corporation: “After only three years in the FIA World Endurance Championship, I’m overjoyed that Toyota Racing was able to win both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ World Championships this season with the TS040 Hybrid. I must express my sincere gratitude to our fans for their encouragement and our partners for their support. I would also like to say congratulations and thank you to all the drivers and racing team staff who worked so hard and closely together throughout the season. Toyota will use these experiences in the FIA World Endurance Championship to help revolutionize hybrid technology and to help make ever-better cars that delight people around the world.”
Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Team President: “Today’s race was truly one of the most exciting I have been involved with. I am very proud of the result, especially considering the power loss we suffer at this altitude. Happily our hybrid system worked well which helped particularly with traffic management. Everyone pushed to the limit to find the final tenth of a second. To win both World Championships is one of our biggest achievements in motorsport. Thank you to everyone who has supported us and worked with us to achieve this incredible result. Our team and drivers have been superb this season; everyone has played their part, including Kazuki Nakajima and Nicolas Lapierre who are not with us here in Sao Paulo. We have been fighting against strong competitors who have an incredible history in endurance racing. This makes our achievement even more valuable to us. We will enjoy this moment but immediately we will be working hard to retain our titles in 2015.”