Toyota has denied it’s “sandbagging” at Spa after each its vehicles did not get into Q2 in Friday’s World Endurance Championship qualifying.
The Japanese producer might solely handle the Twelfth- and Sixteenth-fastest instances in qualifying, simply three weeks after it claimed its fiftieth WEC victory at Imola.
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The sharp distinction in efficiency between the 2 circuits is placing, however Floury stresses that there isn’t any query of the group intentionally working slower to disguise the automotive’s true tempo. So near the Le Mans 24 Hours, and with Spa considered a costume rehearsal for the French traditional, such an method might theoretically assist safe a extra beneficial Stability of Efficiency for La Sarthe
“There are alternative ways to have a look at qualifying and Hyperpole,” Floury advised the media together with Motorsport.com. “It’s clearly disappointing. It additionally raises some issues trying forward. However alternatively, I can already think about that there will probably be ideas that we’re sandbagging.
“However when you have a look at it objectively, in comparison with qualifying and Hyperpole final yr, we’re one among solely two producers — who had been right here final yr and are nonetheless right here this yr — to enhance our lap time.
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Final yr, Toyota’s quickest qualifying lap was a 2m01.908s, whereas this yr that improved to a 2m01.592s.
“Whereas we improved our lap time by three tenths, the typical goes slower by three tenths,” Floury added. “Relative to the sector, we’re six tenths quicker.”
“And we have seen additionally the switch between right here and Le Mans final yr. So it positively exhibits that we’re not sandbagging. And I feel it additionally raises some issues, trying forward, not understanding what to anticipate from it.”
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Beide Toyota’s wisten de Hyperpole op Spa niet te bereiken.
Beide Toyota’s wisten de Hyperpole op Spa niet te bereiken.
Observe traits
As an alternative, Floury primarily pointed to the traits of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Whereas Imola options many slower and medium-speed corners, Spa is dominated by high-speed turns.
“The attribute of the monitor would not appear to swimsuit our automotive, sadly,” he admitted. “Sadly, they’re fairly near Le Mans.”
Requested what precisely doesn’t swimsuit the Toyota TR010 Hybrid, Floury replied: “In all probability the character of the corners. The way in which the automotive behaves in these corners might be to not our strongest level.”
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Floury additionally famous that delivered a “very sturdy lap” within the #7 Toyota.
“From automotive potential I do not assume there’s far more we are able to extract,” stated the Frenchman.
“In all probability one tenth to 1 and a half, however not far more than this.”
All in all, Floury nonetheless believes the replace bundle on the automotive. with the transition from the GR010 to the TR010, has delivered a step ahead. “We have now a greater bundle, however we nonetheless have to work and to maintain pushing.”
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