Toyota Gazoo made the perfect start to the 2018-19 FIA World Endurance Championship season by taking pole position for the season-opening Total 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi, in the No.7 TS050 Hybrid they share with Jose Maria Lopez, took pole position with a 1:54.583 average of their fastest laps during a qualifying session which was delayed by 45 minutes due to two red flag periods.
Fernando Alonso took part in his first WEC qualifying session alongside team-mate Kazuki Nakajima and they completed a Toyota clean sweep. They will start second on the grid in the No.8 car shared with Sébastien Buemi.
That result means TOYOTA will start from pole position for the 15th time as it attempts to win a fourth consecutive WEC race, and 17th in total.
Conway and Alonso were first in their respective cars, eventually setting a lap time after a five minute delay caused by a stranded LMP1 car. But Kobayashi and Nakajima had to wait even longer to set their lap times; a heavy accident for another LMP1 car (Pietro Fittipaldi) took 40 minutes to clear but they kept their concentration and ultimately the No.7 car took pole position by 0.379secs.
The point earned for pole position gives the team an early advantage in the teams' standings, with a clear target to strengthen that position in Saturday's race, which begins at 13.30 local time.
"It was a good qualifying session and I enjoyed every single corner," said Alonso. "I'm happy with the lap and the experience. There was a little bit of lap time to find, especially in the middle sector where I had some moments in turn eight and nine but I put a clean lap together then Kazuki did a great job with his lap.
"One-two for the team in the first qualifying of the season is good. There are a long six hours ahead of us but definitely we want to stay at the front."
Meanwhile, the FIA has issued a statement following Fittipaldi's crash, the Brazilian, grandson of two-time F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi, appearing to suffer a technical failure at Eau Rouge.
"The driver, who was conscious at all times, was attended immediately by the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Medical Services and FIA Medical Delegate Jacques Tropenat, extracted from the car and taken by helicopter to the Centre Hospitalier de la Citadelle de Liège with suspected fractures to both legs," said the FIA. "He is accompanied by the DragonSpeed Team Manager and his condition is not life-threatening."
Update: The pole position-winning No.7 of Conway, Kobayashi and Lopez will start from the pit lane after an administrative error resulted in the cancelation of the car's qualifying lap times.
An incorrect identification number for the car's fuel flow meter was declared for the No.7 prior to qualifying. This subsequently emerged during post-qualifying scrutineering. As a result, the car will start from the pit lane, one lap behind the field.
The team accepts full responsibility for the error, which had no impact whatsoever on car performance. The fuel flow meter which was used in the No.7 was fully homologated and calibrated.
Team processes and procedures will be strengthened immediately to avoid any repeat of this unfortunate error.
The situation means the No.8 car of Buemi, Nakajima and Alonso will start from pole position.
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