Toyota denies "sandbagging" in Spa WEC: “We are faster than last year”

Following its victory at Imola, Toyota finds itself much further back in the field at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, but technical Director David Floury denies that the team is "sandbagging"

Toyota has denied it is "sandbagging" at Spa after both its cars failed to get into Q2 in Friday's World Endurance Championship qualifying.

The Japanese manufacturer could only manage the 12th- and 16th-fastest times in qualifying, just three weeks after it claimed its 50th WEC victory at Imola.

The sharp contrast in performance between the two circuits is striking, but Floury stresses that there is no question of the team deliberately running slower to disguise the car’s true pace. So close to the Le Mans 24 Hours, and with Spa regarded as a dress rehearsal for the French classic, such an approach could theoretically help secure a more favourable Balance of Performance for La Sarthe

“There are different ways to look at qualifying and Hyperpole,” Floury told the media including Motorsport.com. “It is obviously disappointing. It also raises some concerns looking ahead. But on the other hand, I can already imagine that there will be thoughts that we are sandbagging.

“But if you look at it objectively, compared to qualifying and Hyperpole last year, we are one of only two manufacturers — who were here last year and are still here this year — to improve our lap time.

Last year, Toyota’s fastest qualifying lap was a 2m01.908s, while this year that improved to a 2m01.592s.

“While we improved our lap time by three tenths, the average goes slower by three tenths,” Floury added. “Relative to the field, we are six tenths faster.”

“And we've seen also the transfer between here and Le Mans last year. So it definitely shows that we are not sandbagging. And I think it also raises some concerns, looking ahead, not knowing what to expect from it.”

Beide Toyota's wisten de Hyperpole op Spa niet te bereiken.

Neither Toyota managed to reach the Hyperpole at Spa.

Photo by: Paul Foster

Track characteristics

Instead, Floury mainly pointed to the characteristics of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. While Imola features many slower and medium-speed corners, Spa is dominated by high-speed turns.

“The characteristic of the track doesn't seem to suit our car, unfortunately,” he admitted. “Unfortunately, they are quite close to Le Mans."

Asked what exactly does not suit the Toyota TR010 Hybrid, Floury replied: “Probably the nature of the corners. The way the car behaves in these corners is probably not to our strongest point.”

Floury also noted that Kamui Kobayashi delivered a “very strong lap” in the #7 Toyota.

“From car potential I don't think there's much more we can extract,” said the Frenchman.

“Probably one tenth to one and a half, but not much more than this.”

All in all, Floury still believes the update package on the car. with the transition from the GR010 to the TR010, has delivered a step forward. “We have a better package, but we still need to work and to keep pushing.”