The Toyota GR010 Hybrid of the Gazoo Racing team, with Pechito Lopez at the wheel. Photo: EFE / EPA / YOAN VALAT.
The team of Argentine José María “Pechito” López, who took the second round driving the number 7 Toyota Gazoo Racing, march as an escort in the traditional 24 Hours of Le Mans car event, which kicks off this Saturday at 11 am in Argentina at the Le Sarthe circuit in France. Stream Star +.
After half the race, and with the car in the hands of the Japanese Kamui Kobayashi, López’s team escorted the other Toyota Gazoo Racing, the number 8, driven by another Japanese, Ryo Hirakawa.
“Pechito” inherited the wheel of his car from British teammate Mike Conway, who started testing in second place and took first place when the other Toyota, driven by Swiss Sebastian Buemi, had to pit.
The Toyota 8 then regained the lead and with 12 hours remaining in the 24 hours it was 22 seconds behind number 7, both with 192 laps.
Spectacular image of the circuit of Le Sarthe, France. Photo: EFE / EPA / YOAN VALAT.
The two trinomials of the Japanese brand, winner of the last four editions, are the first favorites in a test that will last until 11 tomorrowwith good weather forecasts.
The 90th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, valid for the third date of the FIA WEC 2022 (World Endurance Championship), was launched by the president and director of the competition, Patrick Pouyanné, with 62 cars on the track.
“Pechito” Lopez he was crowned champion last year and became the second Argentine to win the legendary race after the reefer’s feat José Froilan Gonzalez in 1954 in collaboration with the local Maurice Trintignant aboard a Ferrari 375.
Together with Conway and Kobayashi, they beat Buemi’s team, Australian Brendon Hartley and Japan’s Kazuki Nakajima, who is replaced by Hirakawa this year.
The race is defined at 11 in the morning, Argentine time. Photo: EFE / EPA / YOAN VALAT.
In 2021, the team of “Pechito” López was able to take revenge on its third consecutive participation in Le Mans, where it was one step away from glory in previous editions.
After scoring much of the test in 2019, a bad strategy by the team relegated them to second on the podium and in 2020 the car ran into turbo issues and qualified in third after dominating the group.
Source: Clarin
