Toro Rosso rookie takes second WEC title

Weekend Racing Wrap

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Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley became a world endurance champion for the second time in his career last weekend.

World Endurance Championship

Race 8: Shanghai

The number eight Toyota crew of Kazuki Nakajima, Sebastien Buemi and Anthony Davidson emerged victorious by over lap ahead of the two Porsches in the penultimate WEC round of 2017. But the outgoing German marque ended the race celebrating, having won both the manufacturer’s title and the overall driver’s championship with the number two car of Timo Bernhard, Earl Bamber and Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley.

The number seven Toyota was leading ahead of the sister car of the eventual winners heading into the final half hour of the race, but any chance of winning the manufacturers title disintegrated as quickly as the punctured tyre of the leaders – which also caused driveshaft and suspension damage resulting in them dropping out of contention, eventually finishing fourth and seven laps down.

Rebellion took LMP2 victory with Bruno Senna, Julien Canal and Nicolas Prost to take the championship lead, beating Signatech Alpine, the sister Rebellion featuring Nelson Piquet Jnr and the Le Mans-winning Jackie Chan DC Racing car, while GTE Pro victory went to the British pairing of Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell for Ford. GTE Am was dominated by Aston Martin with Pedro Lamy, Mathias Lauda and Paul Dalla Lana.

NASCAR Cup

Race 34: Texas

Kevin Harvick bagged himself a place in the season-ending championship shoot-out by winning for Haas at Texas Motor Speedway.

Over to you

What racing action did you watch last weekend? Let us know in the comments.

Next weekend’s racing

The following series are in action next weekend:

  • NASCAR Cup race 35: Phoenix
  • World Rallycross Championship race 12: South Africa

Thanks to Robert Mathershaw (@mathers) for contributing to this article.

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6 comments on “Toro Rosso rookie takes second WEC title”

  1. that porsche in WEC thumbnail looks amazing, the livery suits the car very well

    1. The beautiful Porsche 911 RSR 2017

      If you get a chance, take it for a spin in Assetto corsa. Drives as amazing as it looks

  2. Martin Truex Jr. has also made the championship round via points. Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott and Jimmie Johnson are all fighting for the fourth and final spot.

  3. Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard are now the only double champions by the way. Porsche knows how to do things right.

    I’m also once again not surprised it was Lopez crashing the Toyota, he took such a huge risk when there was absolutely no need for it. It might be perception but I don’t like him in a race car, the fact he hit the Porsche who was very likely going for GTE Pro honours did help that again. His time in WTCC is hardly inspiring if you really know what was going on with the Citroën and his days in the Toyota aren’t that inspiring either.

    Luckily the RSR finished second still and has a good shot at the title in Bahrein. That would be the second season they win all the titles.

    1. What are you talking about? Lopez is an excellent driver he ran with 38c fever this race, he took an unnecesary risk… it happens ,he also won 3 times WTCC with 80 kilos of ballast

  4. Familiar face 5 seconds into the Nascar video….

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