Toyota have performed well throughout the season in the World Endurance Championship and are fighting for the Maufactuers’ Championship.
The Japanese manufacturer were second in the standings behind Porsche ahead of the final round of the season, 10 points behind.
Ferrari are also in contention but need some luck to intervene as they are 27 points behind the championship leaders.
The 8 Hours of Bahrain started frantically in the Hypercar class as there was contact on the opening lap at the very narrow first turn.
Sebastien Buemi began the race for the No. 8 Toyota in the sun at the hottest point of the race. The Swiss began ran well in the opening stages as the No. 51 Ferrari led the race.
Anthony Davidson spotted something decisive from the Toyota driver as he looked to make up ground at the Bahrain International Circuit while commentating for Eurosport.
Anthony Davidson spotted Sebastien Buemi’s ‘desperation’ in passing LMGT3’s
The Hypercar class of car is significantly quicker than the LMGT3 category, meaning the race leaders begin lapping them very early on.
They started to cut through the traffic just 15 minutes into the eight-hour race, which can be difficult to manage.
Managing traffic is a very important skill in multi-class racing, knowing when to be patient and when to pass the other category of car.
Buemi was battling Antonio Giovinazzi in the race’s opening stages and decisively manoeuvred through the traffic.
Davidson explained that passing the GT cars as quickly as possible can be tempting, but patience is also important.
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He said: “The Hypercar’s already coming through this traffic. It’s always the hardest part of the race, actually, when you’re in the leading pack, coming up to the GT cars.
“They’re still very close together because you’re so close to the start of the race. Look, you see there, Buemi diving to the inside in desperation to get back to the racing line before turn four.
“Now the Ferrari who we ride on board with Giovinazzi right in the thick of this GT action. Got to keep your nose clean when you’re in the hypercar category. It’s tempting to overdo it and be desperate to get through them too quickly.”
Sebastien Buemi got hit by an LMGT3 car early in the race
Buemi started the race well and moved through the LMGT3 traffic efficiently before getting caught up in an incident with the No. 82 car.
The Swiss driver was ahead of the Corvette heading into Turn 1, but Hiroshi Koizumi braked too late and made contact with Buemi, causing him to spin.
This incident was needless so early in the race, with more than seven hours remaining, and it dropped Buemi outside the top five.