Toyota says it is evaluating its next course of action in the wake of its disqualification from the 6 Hours of Silverstone, which it has blamed on damage sustained by the revised Silverstone kerbs.
Toyota dominated the third round of the 2018/19 Super Season to claim its third straight 1-2 finish with ease, the #8 car of Fernando Alonso, Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima again triumphant.
However it was revealed post-race that both TS050 HYBRIDs had failed the mandatory checks, handing victory to Rebellion Racing.
The stewards confirmed that “the front part of the skid block deflected 9mm under the specified 2500 N load on both sides of the skid block [on the #7 car].”
On the #8 car it “deflected 6mm on the right-hand side and 8mm on the left-hand side under the specified 200 N load at the front of the skid block.”
Toyota suggested that the “car running off-track” was to blame but stewards “considered this possibility, but determined that the design of the car must be able to withstand the normal rigours of a 6-hour endurance race.”
In a post-race statement Toyota confirmed that “both cars suffered damage to their respective front floor areas during the race due to impacts against the new kerbs at Silverstone.
“Regrettably, this also caused both cars to fail deflection tests in post-race scrutineering. As a result, race stewards disqualified both cars.
“The design and construction of the part concerned has not changed since its introduction at the beginning of the 2017 season.
“Since then it has successfully passed similar tests, most recently at Spa this season.
“The team is now evaluating its next course of action.”
The #8 Toyota crew still leads the championship, though its lead over new nearest rival – the #3 Rebellion – stands at a reduced two points.
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