Toyota ended the final qualifying session of the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship season with a front row lockout in Bahrain.
With light fading around the Sakhir circuit, Alex Wurz and Stephane Sarrazin set out to do the opening laps in their respective #7 and #8 TS030 Hybrids. Qualifying for the WEC requires two drivers from each car to set a minimum of two lap times, with the combined average of each driver’s fastest two laps decided the grid.
“It was a good session. On my first lap I was a bit too cautious because it was my first time with this combination of set-up and tyres,” said Sarrazin. “I didn’t want to take any risks so I didn’t over-drive. On the second lap I improved; it was quite good. The target was first and second for the team, and we are first and second. I would prefer the #8 to be first, but the race is still to come. The whole team did a great job; Anthony’s laps were great and in the #7 Alex and Kazuki were very fast. It is a good day for all the team.”
Kazuki Nakajima and Anthony Davidson then took over for the second half of the session, placing the two Toyotas on the front row of the grid together for the first time since the season-opening race at Silverstone.
“It was a really good qualifying for us,” commented Nakajima. “We had different tyres compared to what I’d used in the morning and I had a really good feeling. I think the team did a great job to set up the car and get the maximum out of it. They also got me on track at the right moment, without any traffic, so everything was perfect. Alex’s lap was fast and it looks like we are in a competitive position for the race. The first job is done, now we have six hours of racing to go.”
