Toyota Ends First Season with Win in China

ToyotaToyota TS030 HYBRIDJapan, 2012 > present5 photos
2 videos
won its third race of the season at the 6 Hours of Shanghai to end an amazing season for the team. It won by over a lap ahead of the #2 Audi R18 E-Tron QuattroAudi R18 e-tron quattroGermany, 2012 > present8 photos
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driven by Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen. The third place finish by the #1 Audi gave André Lotterer, Benoît Tréluyer and Marcel Fässler the World Drivers' Championship in the World Endurance Championship. 

The #12 Rebellion Racing Lola B12/60-ToyotaLola B12/60 CoupeUnited Kingdom, 2011 > present2 photos
1 video
 was leading among privateers LMP1, but the car came to a halt with eight minutes left in the race. It denied the team a third place finish in the World Drivers' Championship. The #13 Rebellion Racing B12/60-Toyota took over the lead from its teammate.

In LMP2, the ADR Delta Honda Oreca 03-NissanOreca Oreca 03 NissanFrance, 2011 > present2 photos
won its second consecutive race. The Starworks Honda HPD-ARX 03bHonda HPD ARX 03bJapan, 2012 > present2 photos
1 video
and Oak Racing Morgan-NissanOAK Racing Morgan NissanFrance, 2012 > present1 photo
were second and third, respectively. 

In GT, Aston Martin won its class with the Aston Martin Vantage V8Aston Martin Vantage GTEUnited Kingdom, 2012 > present4 photos
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. The Team Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 911 GT3 RSRPorsche 911 GT3 RSRGermany, 2012 > present6 photos
 and AF Corse Ferrari 458Ferrari 458 Italia GTCItaly, 2011 > present5 photos
1 video
 were second and third, respectively. For GTE-Am, the Larbre Competition Corvette ZR1Chevrolet Corvette C6.RUnited States of America, 2011 > present3 photos
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 won the class followed by the Team Felbermayr Proton Porsche GT3 RSRPorsche 911 GT3 RSRGermany, 2011 > present10 photos
and Krohn Racing Ferrari. 

Toyota Motorsport GmbH has an absolutely amazing year. It made the surprise announcement that it was entering prototype racing with a hybrid prototype just before the season began. Then, there was a massive crash in practice that might have been the best thing for the team. It destroyed the team's only chassis but allowed them to completely redesign the front of the car. However, it meant that the team had never competitively driven the car before its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. At the big race, Anthony Davidson had a massive crash that put him in the hospital, and Kazuki Nakajima collided with the DeltawingNissan DeltaWingJapan, 2012 > present19 photos
3 videos
that seems to have caused an electrical fault that eventually took the car out of the race. 

In the last five races of the year, Toyota started to shine. It took a second place at Silverstone that showed the car could be competitive. Then, it won at Sao Paulo, Fuji and Shanghai. The only blip for the team was the 6 Hours of Bahrain where the heat and sand caused electrical issues for the car, and it finished third.