Yahoo Autos Toyotas Lead Day 1 of FIA World Endurance Championship Testing
Toyota's two updated GR010 prototypes have set the fastest time in today's first day of FIA World Endurance Championship Prologue tests at Sebring. The Toyotas each set a time in the 1:48.2 range, 2/10ths of a second ahead of the closest time put in by any other competitor in either of the day's sessions.
While Alex Lynn led the way for Cadillac and their V-Series.R prototype in the second session, his time of 1:48.429 was less than 2/100ths of a second clear of Brendon Hartley in the No. 8 Toyota in the same session. Ferrari and Porsche both sat a full second behind, with best times of 1:49.4 and 1:49.6, respectively. Peugeot, running their wingless 9X8 that struggled when it debuted after Le Mans last season, managed a high watermark of just 1:50.7 across the two sessions.
Entries from two privateers, Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus and Vanwall, failed to break 1:52 in either session.
While early testing times at Sebring are not a significant or reliable indicator of the pace these five cars will have at Le Mans, they are notably our first measurable indicator of where the WEC field stands heading into its most anticipated season ever. Every team has either a new or significantly updated car, so the early WEC tests and races before the 24 hour classic will be significant.
Although the grid has changed significantly, only the Ferrari 499 P will be making its official debut when the WEC season opens on Friday. Porsche and Cadillac's new cars were built for the LMDh rule set and debuted at January's 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Peugeot 9X8 will enter its first full season, but it has raced part-time since late 2022. Toyota's GR010 won Le Mans the past two seasons, but has undergone major changes to improve on some sacrifices made when regulations changed during the car's development. Friday's race, and the two other WEC races set to be held between now and June's 24 Hours of Le Mans, are significant moments for each manufacturer as they prepare for the 100th anniversary of the 24 hour classic.
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