Le Mans 24h: #7 Toyota drops down order with turbo issue
The #7 Toyota crew has lost the lead of the Le Mans 24 Hours after a turbo issue forced the car into the garage just beyond the halfway mark.
#7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota TS050: Kamui Kobayashi
Rainier Ehrhardt
Kamui Kobayashi had enjoyed a one-lap buffer over the sister #8 Toyota of Brendon Hartley, following the latter's brake issue earlier in the race, when he was informed on the radio about a possible problem with the right-hand side turbo.
His pace having dropped in the 3m30s bracket, the Japanese driver pitted the ailing #7 car, which was quickly hauled into the garage. Toyota mechanics descended on the right-rear corner of the car, scrambling to replace the offending turbo.
Kobayashi spent almost 30 minutes in the garage, and has dropped seven laps off the lead, still held by Hartley in the #8 Toyota.
Gustavo Menezes is one lap down in second in the #1 Rebellion R-13, while Romain Dumas is three laps off the lead in the #3 Rebellion.
Paul di Resta continues to lead LMP2 in the #22 United Autosports Oreca, James Calado leads the way in GTE Pro for Ferrari, and Charlie Eastwood is out in front in GTE Am for TF Sport.
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Related video
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments