Toyota has denied it’s “sandbagging” at Spa after each its automobiles didn’t 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.
The sharp distinction in efficiency between the 2 circuits is placing, however Floury stresses that there isn’t a query of the crew intentionally operating slower to disguise the automotive’s true tempo. So near the Le Mans 24 Hours, and with Spa thought to be a costume rehearsal for the French basic, such an strategy might theoretically assist safe a extra beneficial Steadiness 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 however, I can already think about that there might be ideas that we’re sandbagging.
“However should you take a look at it objectively, in comparison with qualifying and Hyperpole final yr, we’re one in every of solely two producers — who have been right here final yr and are nonetheless right here this yr — to enhance our lap time.
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 common goes slower by three tenths,” Floury added. “Relative to the sphere, we’re six tenths sooner.”
“And we have seen additionally the switch between right here and Le Mans final yr. So it positively exhibits that we aren’t sandbagging. And I believe it additionally raises some issues, trying forward, not figuring out what to anticipate from it.”
Neither Toyota managed to achieve the Hyperpole at Spa.
Picture by: Paul Foster
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 does not appear to go well with our automotive, sadly,” he admitted. “Sadly, they’re fairly near Le Mans.”
Requested what precisely doesn’t go well with the Toyota TR010 Hybrid, Floury replied: “Most likely the character of the corners. The way in which the automotive behaves in these corners might be to not our strongest level.”
Floury additionally famous that Kamui Kobayashi delivered a “very robust lap” within the #7 Toyota.
“From automotive potential I do not suppose there’s far more we will extract,” mentioned the Frenchman.
“Most likely one tenth to 1 and a half, however not far more than this.”
All in all, Floury nonetheless believes the replace package deal on the automotive. with the transition from the GR010 to the TR010, has delivered a step ahead. “We now have a greater package deal, however we nonetheless must work and to maintain pushing.”
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