The Toyota TS050 Hybrid #7 of ‘Pechito‘ Lopez, Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi has won the 6 Hours of Shanghai ahead of the LMP1 #8 of teammates Fernando Alonso, Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima. The Spaniard was adversely affected by his team’s pit strategy just as he was leading the race.

This is the second consecutive victory and fourth 1-2 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing team over the last five races of the World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Behind them came their twin car (#8) driven by Fernando Alonso, Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima. The prototype of the Spaniard was undermined by his team’s strategy at the leadership change. In any case, the latter remains at the head of the standings with just 5 points more than their teammates at the Japanese Scuderia.

A feast of emotions and overtakings

The private prototypes of the World Endurance Championship have not been able to take advantage of the Equivalence of Technology (EoT) concessions they have enjoyed in China. The first one to cross the finish line was the SMP11, finishing behind the ‘Japanese Empire’ and ahead of the Rebellion #1.

This was a very exciting and extremely competitive race right until the very end and one that was marked by the adverse weather conditions. The torrential rain caused two red flags, eleven Safety Cars and innumerable incidents. The end of the race, with the two Toyota fighting for the victory, was disputed at night and under very complicated driving conditions adding to the overall drama.

The downpours and flooding have taken centre stage since the beginning of the 6 Hours of Shanghai. The start was in fact, performed behind the Safety Car as the roads were quickly turning into rivers.

After just 18 minutes and several vehicles going off track, most cars could barely get any grip and the first red flag came out. The cars were then parked along the starting line waiting for the weather to improve.

Leadership change for the Toyotas 

Fifty-two minutes after that first break the pack made a start again behind the Safety Car. It was the start of the civil war for the lead at the 6 Hours of Shanghai. Prototype #7 driven by ‘Pechito‘ Lopez, went straight in turn 1 due to aquaplaning and was soon overtaken by Sebastien Buemi’s Toyota #8.

Toyota’s pit-stop mistake

Taking advantage of another Safety Car at 2 hours and 44 minutes caused by some fresh incidents, the Japanese team made its first simultaneous change of pilots. ‘Pechito‘ Lopez yielded his TS050 #7 to Kobayashi and Buemi did the same with Alonso in the Toyota #8.

The race was relaunched a few minutes later but, by that time, the Toyotas had dropped to second and third place behind the Rebellion #1 of Bruno Senna. The clock marked 2 hours and 53 minutes when the Safety Car left and the battle returned to the track. 

The Spaniard, who was not happy with a second place launched a fierce attack on the nephew of the mythical Ayrton Senna. What an overtake! Alonso regained control for the Japanese team at the 6 Hours of Shanghai. Meanwhile, the SMP 11 of Jenson Button replaced the Rebellion #1 in the third place. Half an hour after the midpoint came the decisive and fateful moment for Alonso.

Alonso loses the leadership (and the race) while in boxes

Tom Dillman’s ByKolles broke down on a straight at 3 hours and 35 minutes triggering the sixth Safety Car of the 6 Hours of Shanghai. This caused the #8 of the Spaniard to lose the 20 seconds he had achieved with great effort and expertise.

Although his teammate Kobayashi on board the Toyota #7, was running second behind Alonso, he entered boxes at 3 hours and 55 minutes. The Spaniard tried to pit one lap later but he found the pit-lane closed as this was obstructed by the passing pack of drivers. By the time Alonso resumed the race, he had fallen to third place, behind the Toyota #7 and the SMP 11.

Alonso fights back

As the commissioners waved the green flag, Alonso went into an overtaking spree in an attempt to catch up with Kobayashi but by that point, his Japanese teammate was 23 seconds ahead of him and all because of Toyota’s random pit strategy. Despite his adverse situation he gave it all he had in an attempt to recover the throne.

4 hours and 55 minutes later he passed the SMP 11 into second position. He also narrowed the gap with Kobayashi to 20 seconds before getting off the #8.

Both Toyotas sprint to the end 

Nakajima took over from Alonso and Conway replaced Kobayashi for the last hour of the race. Everything seemed decided … until the SMP 17 of Matrevos Isaakyan triggered the umpteenth deployment of the Safety Car.

The advantage of the leader (Toyota #7) over the second (prototype TS050 #8) had at this point virtually vanished. With seven minutes to go, the Safety Car left the track. Nakajima was putting pressure on Conway, but the Briton was resisting the attacks of the Japanese. The victory was finally for the TS050 #7 in a 1-2 for Toyota that leaves Fernando Alonso with a bitter after-taste.

The Spaniard’s car remains at the top of the table, but just five points ahead of the runner-up. Third and at just one lap’s distance came in the SMP 11 of Aleshin, Petrov and Button, ahead of the Rebellion #1 shared by Jani, Lotterer and Senna. The 6 Hours of Shanghai have been the last race of the World Resistance Championship’s season. The WEC 2018/2019 Super Season will resume in four months’ time with the 6 Hours of Sebring.