What the LMP1 drivers said after the 6 Hours of Shanghai

Sébastien Buemi – No.8 Toyota TS050 HYBRID, Toyota Gazoo Racing – 1st 
“We were running a different type of tyre so I knew it would be difficult at the start but we thought it might pay off a bit later in the race. So the first few laps were quite challenging. It was a bit of a strange start but it worked out ok.  We obviously damage the tyres a lot here because of the surface and we had to really look after them."

Anthony Davidson – No.8 Toyota TS050 HYBRID, Toyota Gazoo Racing – 1st  
“It’s great to get a win again after actually driving the car, unlike in Fuji! I can properly celebrate this one. The car was great. We struggled a bit compared to #7 in qualifying but we had the best car in the race. I want to say thanks to our car crew because we had the right strategy and strong pit stops. That gave us the platform to win today.”

Earl Bamber – No.2 Porsche 919 Hybrid, Porsche LMP1 Team, 2nd - 2017 FIA World Endurance Driver Champion
“It’s been a fantastic season and I couldn’t wish for anyone better in the car like Timo and Brendon. They have been fantastic all year and everyone at the factory has worked so hard.

“When we brought the new high downforce package in it was a real turning point for us this season. To do it here at Shanghai at a track [winning the World Championship title] I started my career with Porsche is pretty special.”

Brendon Hartley – No.2 Porsche 919 Hybrid, Porsche LMP1 Team, 2nd - 2017 FIA World Endurance Driver Champion
“It hasn’t fully sunk in yet as it has been quite a busy few weeks for me! But to share a second title with Timo and a first one with Earl, who I grew up racing with, is an incredible story. It feels incredible to be World Champions again and big thanks to Porsche.”

Timo Bernhard – No.2 Porsche 919 Hybrid, Porsche LMP1 Team, 2nd - 2017 FIA World Endurance Driver Champion
“It is an honour to go racing with these guys and it is definitely the peak of motorsport I have achieved. It has been an incredible season we have had and you have seen what we have achieved here.

“To have the winning streak we had (four race wins), I think was amazing and today we just have to accept that P2 was the maximum we could do. We want to strike back for Bahrain and we are very motivated for this last race as it will be emotional because it is our last event as the programme comes to an end.”

André Lotterer – No.1 Porsche 919 Hybrid, Porsche LMP1 Team, 3rd 
“Congratulations to the team, it is impressive operation and since it joined the WEC we have used the same car and drivetrain philosophy. They are still benefitting from this technology today so well done to them.

“As a team we would have liked to have been in that position too but that’s racing and we will keep pushing and hopefully Bahrain will be a happy end for us.”

Nick Tandy – No.1 Porsche 919 Hybrid, Porsche LMP1 Team, 3rd 
“So it was looking like we were going to have a good race. It was close at the start and the No.8 car got past us but it looked like we weren’t too bad on long run pace generally. 

“But we had a problem which turned out to be a sensor issue on the throttle. It took a while to figure out what was happening and we re-set some things to get going again and from then on we were licking our wounds. We had a fairly trouble free race but as it turned out the Toyota was the best car this weekend and today, so we are happy we can get up to the podium and also come away as World Manufacturer champions.”