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Alonso's Toyota defence doesn't match reality

Fernando Alonso has claimed that Toyota has been pegged back enough for the privateers to challenge the LMP1 squad, but his comments obscure the WEC's balancing act breakthrough

Gary Watkins Oct 19, 2018, 12:13 PM

Fernando Alonso's suggestion that the LMP1 privateers are now ready to start knocking on Toyota's door in the World Endurance Championship caused some consternation after Fuji.

And it would be easy to be outraged if you've only glanced at the results showing the four laps that the Japanese manufacturer's cars had in hand over on the best of the independents on home ground last weekend.

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Author Gary Watkins

Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.

Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.