MotorSports
Jul 13, 2025
  • Motorsports News
  • Formula 1
  • IndyCar
  • NASCAR
  • Rally
  • SportsCars
  • Touring
  • WEC
Font ResizerAa
MotorSportsMotorSports
Search
  • Categories
  • Forums
  • More Foxiz
    • Blog Index
    • Sitemap
Sign In Sign In
Follow US
Made by ThemeRuby using the Foxiz theme. Powered by WordPress
Estre: Hirakawa was ‘blocking me in all places’ in Fuji regardless of blue flags
WEC

Estre: Hirakawa was ‘blocking me in all places’ in Fuji regardless of blue flags

By Miles Cooper October 31, 2024
SHARE
- Advertisement -

Porsche’s Kevin Estre felt Toyota rival Ryo Hirakawa was “blocking me in all places” regardless of being proven blue flags on an outlap in Sunday’s Fuji WEC race.

Lengthy-time race chief Estre encountered the #8 Toyota GR010 HYBRID of Hirakawa at the start of the sixth hour after the Japanese driver got here into the pits comparatively early for his closing pitstop.

Driving the #6 Porsche Penske 963 LMDh, Estre continued to shut in on Hirakawa, who was first proven a blue flag on the Flip 8 kink. However after working nostril to tail on the Dunlop chicane, Estre and Hirakawa made contact on the lengthy Flip 15 hairpin, with the Toyota driver subsequently working off the observe.

Rejoining the circuit, Hirakawa briefly moved forward of Estre into Flip 16, earlier than the Porsche driver lastly accelerated away from him on the primary straight to place a lap on him.

Talking after clinching his second win of the 12 months along with team-mates Laurens Vanthoor and Andre Lotterer, Estre claimed that Hirakawa had no intention to let him by simply regardless of being obliged to take action.

The 30-year-old was later deemed responsible of ignoring blue flags and handed a drive-through penalty by the stewards.

“The #8 Toyota got here out on chilly tyres, at the least on one facet [of the car],” Estre defined. “It was a bit slower and it was about to get one lap down and he undoubtedly didn’t drive to let me [by]. He blocked in all places and I needed to go him, and he handed me, and so forth.

“It was fairly sizzling, we had slightly contact in Flip 15. So that they threw stuff at us however we’re stronger this 12 months. So that they hold throwing however in some way they do not succeed, which is nice for us.”

Estre: Hirakawa was ‘blocking me in all places’ in Fuji regardless of blue flags

#6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Kevin Estre

Photograph by: Andreas Beil

Hirakawa was working fourth on advantage earlier than pitting and would have regained the lap he misplaced to Estre after the Porsche driver made his personal cease later within the closing hour. However the drive-through penalty meant the #8 GR010 Hybrid Hirakawa shared with Sebastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley may end no greater than tenth, costing Toyota the lead within the producers’ standings to Porsche.

Hirakawa admitted that he didn’t need to make it simple for Estre to lap him, however felt that the French driver additionally deserved to be penalised for pushing him off the observe.

“I knew that I used to be combating with automotive #6,” he stated. “After I noticed in mirror automotive #6, I attempted to concentrate on my tyre prep. After all I’d not go simple on them.

“After which automotive #6 simply pushed me off at Flip 15. That is it. Apparently, I had an infringement for a blue flag. I feel I had [done] nothing incorrect.

“After I heard there was an investigation for automotive #8 and automotive #6, I believed perhaps automotive #6 will get a penalty as a result of he pushed me off. Was a little bit of a shock.”

#6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Kevin Estre, Andre Lotterer, Laurens Vanthoor

#6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Kevin Estre, Andre Lotterer, Laurens Vanthoor

Photograph by: Andreas Beil

In its report, the stewards acknowledged that “automotive 8 was proven blue flag on a number of events and may haven’t continued to battle with automotive 6 in flip 13-14-15-16”.

However Toyota’s technical director David Floury was unimpressed by the choice to penalise Hirakawa, insisting that he wasn’t given sufficient time to let Estre go him.

The sanction was significantly vital because it has left Toyota dealing with a 10-point deficit to Porsche within the producers’ standings with simply the Bahrain finale season to run.

“As soon as once more we will query the selections that have been taken towards us,” he stated. “Clearly [with] blue flags you get a penalty when you’ve a blue flag for 2 sectors [and] we get the blue flag [for the] first time in Flip 8.

“We have been offsetting the technique as a result of we had determined to chop quick that stint to go for a full stint on the finish of the race with new tyres. So we have been offset just about, we have been like 25-30s behind automotive #6 and never a full lap [down].

“In any case, we obtained a blue flag in flip 8, which is the primary time, and he [Estre] pushed us off in Flip 15. We left room for him to go by, he hit us, pushed us off observe and we get a penalty as a result of we made contact with him.

He added: “I want to perceive as a result of I’ve clearly not seen the identical motion not too long ago and it is turning into so much [more difficult] this season.

“I’ve seen extra penalties for yellow flag infringement in that race than within the final 4 seasons altogether. It is a consequence of the truth that in Austin we complained about this case.

“Clearly not pleased with [how] the sporting elements are dealt with.”

By the way, the opposite vehicles from Toyota and Porsche have been additionally concerned in a collision, with Kamui Kobayashi taking the blame for the collision that put the #7 GR010 HYBRID out of the race.

Learn Additionally:

Watch: Again-to-back wins in Fuji | WEC 6 hours of Fuji Highlights

- Advertisement --
TAGGED:blockingblueEstreflagsFujiHirakawa
Previous Article America wants a aggressive F1 driver — Jak Crawford may very well be the reply America wants a aggressive F1 driver — Jak Crawford may very well be the reply
Next Article Friday favorite: When Aussie alpha males thrived at HRT Friday favorite: When Aussie alpha males thrived at HRT
Leave a Comment Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


- Advertisement -
Revolutionizing the Track: How GRIDLIFE’s Touring Cup is Transforming North American Club Racing
Revolutionizing the Track: How GRIDLIFE’s Touring Cup is Transforming North American Club Racing
Touring
Deegan Takes the Wheel: Exciting Move to INDY NXT with HMD in 2025!
Deegan Takes the Wheel: Exciting Move to INDY NXT with HMD in 2025!
IndyCar
Cadillac’s Penalty Turns Up the Heat on WEC São Paulo Starting Grid for 6-Hour Showdown!
Cadillac’s Penalty Turns Up the Heat on WEC São Paulo Starting Grid for 6-Hour Showdown!
WEC
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Achieves Unforgettable Milestone at Sonoma!
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Achieves Unforgettable Milestone at Sonoma!
Motorsports News
From no-hopers to F1 podium in 12 months: What’s changed at Sauber?
From no-hopers to F1 podium in 12 months: What’s changed at Sauber?
Formula 1
NASCAR lawsuit update: 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports could lose charters – Yardbarker
NASCAR lawsuit update: 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports could lose charters – Yardbarker
Motorsports News

Categories

Archives

October 2024
MTWTFSS
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031 
    Nov »

You Might Also Like

Magnussen slots into BMW WEC LMDh squad for 2025
WEC

Magnussen slots into BMW WEC LMDh squad for 2025

By Miles Cooper December 12, 2024
Buemi: Austin conflict with Estre “seemed worse than it was”
WEC

Buemi: Austin conflict with Estre “seemed worse than it was”

By Miles Cooper November 1, 2024
Leclerc’s ex-engineer becomes Cadillac technical director in WEC and IMSA
WEC

Leclerc’s ex-engineer becomes Cadillac technical director in WEC and IMSA

By Ethan Riley March 31, 2025
Qualifying format tweaks deliberate for 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours
WEC

Qualifying format tweaks deliberate for 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours

By Miles Cooper December 5, 2024
Lotterer: Second WEC crown extra prestigious than maiden triumph in 2012
WEC

Lotterer: Second WEC crown extra prestigious than maiden triumph in 2012

By Miles Cooper November 6, 2024
Ferrari will get weight break beneath WEC Qatar BoP
WEC

Ferrari will get weight break beneath WEC Qatar BoP

By Miles Cooper February 20, 2025

MotorSports-News

@2024 – All Right Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?