丰田为平川亮加盟哈斯F1准备替补方案
丰田青训车手埃斯特班·马松（Esteban Masson）已做好准备，若平川亮离开世界耐力锦标赛转投哈斯参加F1，他将于明年升入丰田的Hypercar车队。
丰田的替补计划——若平川亮获得哈斯F1席位
这家日本制造商正在为车手阵容可能的调整做准备，平川亮被传可能转投F1。
#8丰田车队丰田TR010 Hybrid：平川亮
丰田2027年世界耐力锦标赛（WEC）的车手阵容仍未确定，丰田车队（TGR）高层正在等待哈斯车队敲定接替奥康的人选，后者将于年底离开车队。
哈斯储备车手平川亮是接替这位大奖赛分站冠军的三位候选车手之一，法拉利储备车手拉斐尔·卡马拉以及现任F2冠军莱昂纳多·福尔纳利也在竞争之列。
这位32岁的车手今年已经参加了多次F1测试，作为哈斯旧车测试（TPC）项目的一部分，该项目由哈斯与其技术合作伙伴丰田联合运营，此外他近年来还曾为迈凯伦和阿尔派进行过测试。
尽管目前在F2积分榜上领先的卡马拉越来越被视为与奥利弗·比尔曼搭档席位的热门人选，但这家美国车队尚未就其2027年的计划做出决定。
丰田技术总监大卫·弗洛里表示，如果这家制造商失去了2022年勒芒24小时耐力赛冠军平川，将马松提拔到 超级跑车组别将是“顺理成章的选择”。
据了解，任何有关奥孔将转投丰田参加世界耐力锦标赛的传闻都完全不符合事实。
“显然，埃斯特班已经基本做好了接手的准备。我们仍在讨论此事，但显然这将是一个顺理成章的选择（用来顶替平川），”弗洛里在接受包括 Motorsport.赛车运动网站在内的媒体采访时表示。
马松被视为世界耐力锦标赛的下一个超级新星，丰田正在培养他，以便他未来能够升入 超级跑车组别。
这位法国车手于去年11月在巴林新秀测试中首次驾驶GR010 Hybrid赛车，随后在六月的勒芒测试日驾驶了升级版TR010 Hybrid赛车。
他目前正在欧洲勒芒系列赛中争夺总冠军，他的履历中还包括在勒芒获得的两个LMP2组别领奖台。
#78号阿克科迪斯Asp车队雷克萨斯RC F LMGT3：埃斯特班·马松
为什么7号丰田赛车中没有日本车手？
长期以来，丰田在其两台世界耐力锦标赛（WEC）赛车中都各安排了一名日本车手。车队负责人兼车手小林可梦伟代表日本驾驶7号TR010 Hybrid赛车，而8号赛车的车阵则由平川亮领衔，他在前F1车手中嶋一贵转入管理岗位后接替了他的位置。
丰田上一次没有在某台赛车中安排日本车手是在2015年，也就是它签下小林可梦伟参加LMP1项目的前一年。
弗鲁里并没有排除明年派出没有日本车手的车阵的可能性，但他强调了车队拥有来自制造商本土国家代表的重要性。
“当然，对我们来说每台赛车上有一名日本车手很重要。但同样重要的是我们要有好的表现，”他说。
“显然，里奥是车队的一部分，目前他和我们在一起，完全融入了车队，并且达到了预期。”
弗鲁里补充说，丰田的车手阵容中没有能够填补明年超级跑车（Hypercar）席位空缺的日本车手，这进一步增加了马松的机会。
“我们有一些候选人，但目前还不一定能够在短时间内直接上阵，”他说。
自平川于2022年接替中岛一贵坐进那个席位以来，弗鲁里一直在关注他的进步。此外，这位法国工程师还评估了多位后来参加世界耐力锦标赛（WEC）的F1车手的表现，其中包括小林可梦伟、塞巴斯蒂安·布耶米、布伦登·哈特利和尼克·德弗里斯。
考虑到平川的年龄以及他在国际级别单座赛车方面的经验有限，如果哈斯选择他，将是一个出人意料的选择。
但弗卢里表示，对平川如何适应大奖赛赛车“毫不担心”，并列举了他在超级方程式（Super Formula）中的丰富经验以及多次参加F1私人测试的经历。
“凉这些年显然一直在进步，”他说。“他是我们车队中非常强的一员。他每个周末都能跑出出色的比赛。他绝对处于最佳状态。
“他之所以能来到（Hypercar）这里，不是因为他是日本人；而是因为他的表现足够出色。”
“我们在世界耐力锦标赛（WEC）以及我们车队内部都有很好、很有力的参照。他每个周末都在证明自己处于非常高的水平。”
他补充道：“凉（Ryo）之前参加过很多次方程式比赛，所以这对他来说并不是什么新鲜事。”
“他还在很多节练习与排位中和我们一起驾驶了测试前车手用车（TPC 车辆），所以他已经进入状态了。我并不担心。”
“至于接下来会怎样，我不便发表评论，因为这还没有确定，也并不是直接重要的事情。”
丰田即将对车手阵容做出又一变动，凯文·埃斯特雷将以租借形式从保时捷加盟，接替迈克·康威——后者预计将在效力这支位于科隆的车队12个赛季后离开。
英文原文
Toyota’s replacement plan if Ryo Hirakawa lands Haas F1 seat
The Japanese manufacturer is preparing for a possible reshuffle of its driver line-up, with Hirakawa being linked to a potential move to F1
#8 Toyota Racing Toyota TR010 Hybrid: Ryo Hirakawa
Toyota junior Esteban Masson is primed to move up to the manufacturer’s Hypercar squad next year should Ryo Hirakawa leave the World Endurance Championship to race for Haas in Formula 1.
Toyota’s 2027 WEC line-up remains in flux, as the TGR bosses wait for Haas to finalise its replacement for Esteban Ocon, who will be departing the squad at the end of the year.
Haas reserve Hirakawa is among the three drivers shortlisted to replace the one-time grand prix winner, with Ferrari reserve Rafael Camara and reigning F2 champion Leonardo Fornali also in the running.
The 32-year-old has completed several F1 tests this year as part of Haas’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme, which is run in conjunction with its technical partner Toyota, while he has also tested for McLaren and Alpine in recent years.
Although F2 points leader Camara is increasingly being viewed as the favourite for the seat alongside Oliver Bearman, a decision is yet to be made regarding the American team’s 2027 plans.
Toyota technical director David Floury said promoting Masson to Hypercar would be the “logical choice” if the manufacturer loses 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours winner Hirakawa to F1.
It is understood that any rumours linking Ocon with a move to Toyota in WEC are wide of the mark.
“Obviously, Esteban is pretty much ready to step in. We are still discussing this, but obviously it would be a logical choice [to replace Hirakawa],” Floury told the media including Motorsport.com.
Masson is seen as the next big star in the WEC and is being groomed by Toyota for a graduation to Hypercar in the future.
The Frenchman drove the GR010 Hybrid for the first time at the Bahrain rookie test in November last year, before getting behind the wheel of the upgraded TR010 Hybrid at the Le Mans test day in June.
He is currently fighting for the title in the European Le Mans Series, and his CV includes two LMP2 podiums at Le Mans.
#78 Akkodis Asp Team Lexus RC F LMGT3: Esteban Masson
No Japanese driver in #7 Toyota?
For the longest time, Toyota has had one Japanese driver in each of its two WEC cars. Team principal/driver Kamui Kobayashi represents the nation in the #7 TR010 Hybrid, while the line-up for the #8 car is led by Hirakawa, who himself replaced Kazuki Nakajima after the former F1 driver moved into a management role.
The last time Toyota didn’t have a Japanese driver in one of its cars was in 2015, the year before it signed Kobayashi for its LMP1 programme.
Floury did not rule out the possibility of fielding a line-up without a Japanese driver next year, but stressed the importance of having representation from the manufacturer’s home nation.
“For sure, it's important for us to have one Japanese driver on each car. But it's also important that we perform,” he said.
“Obviously, Rio is part of the team and at the moment is here with us, fully integrated in the team and delivering to expectations.”
Floury added that Toyota doesn’t have a Japanese rider in its roster who could fill a vacancy in Hypercar next year, further boosting Masson’s chances.
“We have some candidates, but right now, not necessarily ready to step in at short notice,” he said.
Floury has followed Hirakawa’s progress since he stepped into the seat previously occupied by Nakajima in 2022. Further, the French engineer has also evaluated the performance of several F1 drivers who went on to race in the WEC, including Kobayashi, Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Nyck de Vries.
Given his age and limited single-seater racing experience at an international level, Hirakawa would be a left-field choice for Haas.
But Floury said has “no concerns” about how Hirakawa would adapt to grand prix racing, citing his extensive experience in Super Formula and private F1 testing.
“Ryo has clearly developed through the years,” he said. “He's a very strong member of our team. He's delivering good races every weekend. He's definitely on it.
“He is not here [in Hypercar] because he's Japanese; he's here because he's performing.
“We have good and strong references in WEC and in our team as well. He's showing every weekend that he's at a very high level.
He added: “Ryo has done a lot of single-seaters before. So, it's nothing new.
“He's also been driving the TPC car with us in many sessions. So, he's up to speed. I'm not concerned.
“As for what's next, I'm not in a position to comment because it's not decided and not directly important.”
Toyota is set to make another change to its line-up, with Kevin Estre set to join from Porsche on a loan basis to replace Mike Conway, who expected to depart the Cologne-based team after 12 seasons.
Motorsport.com ·
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