Toyota devastated as Nos. 7 & 9 retire at Le Mans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkYkcHtmzek
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbq76_j82eU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYe_CpYc2jI
14 hours to go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBkMFCFdaGU
Saturday, 17 June 2017
By Stephen Kilbey
UPDATED: Toyota Gazoo Racing has determined that the incident that caused the retirement of the No. 9 car was caused by a fuel cut as Nicolas Lapierre ran alongside the Manor ORECA, sending him into a spin.
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With 13 and a half hours remaining in the Le Mans 24 Hours, Toyota Gazoo Racing's chances of winning are all but over.
The No. 7 TS050 HYBRID of Kamui Kobayashi, after suffering from a power failure after a safety car period, ground to a halt multiple times on its way back to the pits, before the Japanese driver was forced to climb out. The car had led much of the first half of the race.
To make matters worse the No. 9 Toyota, which represented its only challenger following the No. 8's woes, then retired moments later. Nicolas Lapierre collided with the No. 25 Manor ORECA of Simon Trummer at pit-out, sending both into the gravel. The Manor 07 Gibson retired on the spot due to damage, and the No. 9 continue to crawl back to the pits with a rear-left puncture. He couldn't get it back, though, eventually stopping at Maison Blanche, and getting out after multiple attempts to restart the car, which suffered major damage from the puncture.
As it stands, the No. 1 Porsche 919 Hybrid of Nick Tandy leads the race overall, with the No. 31 and No. 13 Vaillante Rebellion ORECAs taking the two remaining podium spots.
The No. 2 Porsche is down in 20th, recovering from its early issues, as is the No. 8, the only Toyota left. The situation after its Hybrid system change is far worse though, Anthony Davidson down in 54th overall, 29 laps down.