Sébastien Ogier, together with Toyota Gazoo Racing, has long planned a test at the wheel of the new Hypercar GR010 Hybrid in order to understand its level and start in the best way the second part of his career in motorsport, which he would like to be in the World Endurance Championship . Today, the project has become a reality.
After testing the GR010 Hybrid in the simulator at the Toyota headquarters in Cologne, Ogier took part in the WEC Rookie Test held last weekend at the Sakhir track, in Bahrain, right behind the wheel of the Japanese Hypercar number 8, the one that yesterday won the 8 Hours of Bahrain with Kazuki Nakajima, Brendon Hartley and Sébastien Buemi.
For the 7-time WRC world champion a total of 84 laps between the morning and afternoon sessions. In the morning he signed his best time of the day, but made 32 passes. In the afternoon Séb was engaged in a series of long runs, reaching 52 laps overall.
The longest run was completed in the afternoon session: the stint lasted 20 laps, with Ogier having the support of Hartley and Nakajima precisely to help him on his debut day at the wheel of the Japanese Hypercar.
In the end Ogier set the fifth fastest time of the day in 1’50 “647, about 1” 8 slower than the best Toyota driver in the standings, Mike Conway, second behind the Alpine A480 Oreca-Gibson of expert Nicolas Lapierre.
“It was a good test, very interesting. I learned a lot but I know it was just the starting point. I was expecting a car that I could exploit more in terms of performance, but you can’t really push. You have to find the right trajectory and not it’s easy when you’ve only done tests on the simulator. But in general I’m happy with how it went “.
I was expecting more downforce under braking. I don’t have much experience with these machines. I did an output in DTM and a test in F1. I was expecting something more like those category in terms of braking. Instead, to make that step you have to be very sensitive. If you press too hard, you risk blocking the wheels. This is one of the things I learned on the track. “
Traction control management is also difficult. It is something you can change, but it is difficult. It somehow makes the car easier to drive, but it doesn’t make you quick. Braking and traction control are the two areas where I struggled the most today. “
# 8 Toyota Gazoo Racing: Toyota GR010 – Hybrid: Sebastien Ogier
Photo by: Toyota Racing
“It was really exciting to drive the GR010 Hybrid and I really enjoyed the moment I was able to drive it,” Ogier said at the end of the test.
“I didn’t put too much pressure on performance and results, because there are so many new parameters for me. I had to learn to understand the cornering speed, the braking, how the car turns and the hybrid system, which is really something special”.
“You have to have a different mentality to take one lap and then try to do better the next. Everything is different for me, because in rallies every corner is unique. Thanks to Toyota for this special opportunity to discover endurance racing.”
It was therefore the first step in the WEC for the 7-time World Rally Champion, who on the weekend that will go from 18 to 21 November will be chasing the eighth and probably last world title of his amazing career in the WRC.
The test in Sakhir aimed to understand his level and start planning the 2022 season, which should see him protagonist in the Endurance World Championship, even if he still doesn’t have clear ideas about which car he will be able to count on.
He certainly won’t be behind the wheel of either of the two Hypercars GR010 Hybrids. Although Kazuki Nakajima has declared his intention to abandon Toyota, the place of the Japanese should be taken by fellow countryman Ryo Hirakawa.
It is possible that Ogier races with LMP2 prototypes or GT cars, so as to become familiar with the tracks and overtaking, which he is not called to do in the World Rally Championship. For now, his wish has been expressed. It is time for Ogier to understand what he will want to do when he grows up, beyond a few sporadic appearances in the WRC with the hybrid GR Yaris Rally1.
“If I want to have ambitions to be in a top team, racing in LMP2 in 2022 would probably be better. Obviously GT would be better than nothing, I could gain experience in races of the kind that, in fact, I don’t know very much.”
“I’ve seen GT races on TV and the level is really high. There would certainly be something to learn, but the LMP2 would be better.”
Ogier wants to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the factory Toyota team, but this should remain a long-term goal for him.
“I would say yes, the ambition is there, but there is still a long way to go. I have to talk to Toyota, get feedback from them about my test day on the GR010. I know I have some work to do to be I’m ready to deserve the GR010. I don’t want to have the opportunity to race the Hypercar now. I intend to have it without deserving it. I’m not at the level I want to be. “
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