Debut for the TR010 Hybrid
Ferrari dominated the Imola Prologue by placing the three 499P Hypercars – which collectively covered almost 600 laps – in the top three positions. Toyota debuted with the TR010 Hybrid, the Japanese manufacturer’s new Hypercar, which finished in 11th position with Nyck De Vries and 13th with Sebastien Buemi.
Kamui Kobayashi, Toyota driver and team principal, before the Prologue presented the weekend that will see Toyota celebrate 100 races in the hybrid era as follows: “It is extraordinary to have reached this milestone of 100 hybrid races in the WEC. We appreciate the support of Toyota and all our partners who contribute so significantly to our history. This year our expectations are high. The previous car was fast, but it also had limitations, so last season was a big challenge, especially considering that many of our competitors made performance improvements. This means we have been eagerly awaiting the updated car for some time. Thanks to all team members for the great commitment in preparing our new creation; I am excited to see what we can achieve with it.”
“It is incredible to prepare for our hundredth race in the WEC – added Sebastien Buemi – I am really proud to be part of this team from the beginning, especially for how we have become stronger over the years. We believe our new Hypercar will help us compete at the front, and we have all worked very hard to maximize performance. The track will tell us if we have done a good job or not, but I am optimistic. I can’t wait to finally get behind the wheel at Imola, where the goal is obviously the podium in our 100th WEC race.”
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