Why Toyota didn't really beat Le Mans
Toyota finally got the Le Mans triumphed it had coveted to for so many years last weekend as its two cars ran more-or-less without issue for the entire 24 Hours. But without any factory opposition, is it right to say it really beat the race?
The Toyota curse is broken. After 19 failed attempts - and five runner-up finishes - it was 20th time lucky for the Japanese manufacturer in the 86th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Toyota went into this year's race as the heavy favourite. Everything was stacked in its favour: sheer pace, the ability to go a lap longer on fuel than the opposition (albeit still three laps shy of the stints it could pull last year), and faster refuelling times. But, the ghost of past failures, in particular the spectacular, last-minute heartbreak of 2016, still loomed large.
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