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Home , Abdullah Shafique, Haris Rauf, Holger Rune, Khushdil Shah, Rebeka Masarova, Sohaib Maqsood

Sport THURSday 2 SEPTEMBER 2021 Djokovic takes first 'unsteady' step toward calendar I started great. Played a really, really good first set. After that, I don’t know, I was 4-3 serving in the second set, everything was working well, but then I just lost the first serve. I had until tonight tons of experience playing on this court, for him (Holger Rune) it was the first one.

Novak Djokovic Sport | 15 Qatar 2022: European qualifiers Luxembourg 2-1 Azerbaijan, Portugal 2-1 Republic of Ireland, France 1-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina Sheikh Joaan honours Qatar’s national table and swimming teams

The Peninsula – Doha players of the two federations. The President of the Qatar He also reaffirmed that Olympic Committee (QOC), QOC is keen to support the H E Sheikh Joaan bin national sports federations Hamad Al Thani, yesterday to enable them to achieve honoured Qatar’s national more in the forthcoming swimming and table tennis events. teams in recognition of Qatar’s table tennis their outstanding results at team claimed the second the recently concluded place at the 2021 Arab Arab Table Tennis Cham- Championships held in pionships and 28th GCC Jordan with 19 medals Aquatics Championships. including 4 gold medals in QOC Secretary- both singles and doubles General Jassim bin Rashid events while Qatar’s Al Buenain, President of swimming team won the the Qatar Table Tennis title of youth and age group Association Khaleel Al events at the 28th GCC Mohannadi, President of Aquatics Championships in the Qatar Swimming Asso- Doha. ciation Khaleel Al Jabir and Team Qatar swimmers Directors of QOC Depart- claimed 52 medals ments attended the including 30 gold medals, ceremony. 15 silver medals and 7 Sheikh Joaan congrat- bronze medals. ulated the two teams on Qatar also took the their achievements lauding second place in the open efforts made by the Presi- age group event with 10 The President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC),H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, posing for a photograph with medal winners at the dents, members of the medals including 3 gold recently concluded Arab Table Tennis Championships and 28th GCC Aquatics Championships during a ceremony held at the QOC Headquarters administrative and tech- medals, 6 silver medals in Doha, yesterday. QOC Secretary-General Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, President of the Qatar Table Tennis Association Khaleel Al Mohannadi, nical bodies and all the and 1 bronze medal. President of the Qatar Swimming Association Khaleel Al Jabir and Directors of QOC Departments are also present. Serbia beat Qatar in European Qualifiers Ronaldo Chinthana Wasala Qatar's Hassan Al Haydos vies for the ball possession with kissed the bottom right corner creates The Peninsula Strahinja Pavlovic of Serbia during their European Qualifier of the net. played at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary Almoez and Mohammed Two goals from each half yesterday. Pic: QFA Waad both made several history as helped Serbia defeat Qatar 4-0 attempts to score in two dif- in their Group A match in the ferent instances in the 68th Portugal European Qualifiers at the minute, assisted by the Asian Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Player of the Year Akram Afif Hungary yesterday. on both occasions, but failed. sees off At Al Annabi’s ‘home Almoez shot from a difficult venue’, an own goal by Boualem angle on the left but the ball Ireland Khoukhi put the Serbians ahead flew next to the right goal post as early as the second minute while Waad kicked the ball REUTERS – FARO, Portugal of the match before Luka Jovic from outside the box but it got doubled the lead (15). Dusan saved by Rakjovic. Cristiano Ronaldo became Vlahovic (60) and Nikola Serbia sealed the deal with the all-time leading scorer Milenkovic (85) scored in the a fourth goal when Milenkovic in men's international second half of the match which headed the ball into the net football when he headed was played sans spectators due from the centre of the box after two late goals to give to COVID-19 protocols. receiving a cross from Andrija Portugal a 2-1 comeback Jovic’s goal came when he Zivkovic following a corner victory over Ireland in shot from the centre of the box kick. Group A of World Cup to the bottom right corner fol- It is noteworthy yesterday’s Qualifying yesterday. lowing a fast break to the defeat was Qatar’s first against The Manchester United delight of coach Dragan Sto- Serbia, having won three and forward saw Gavin Bazunu, jkovic as Serbia, ranked 29th in drawn one out of four previous a Manchester City loanee, the FIFA computer, dominated meetings. save a first-half penalty fol- the proceedings. The Felix Sanchez-coached lowing a Jeff Hendrick foul A few minutes later, Asian champions, hosts of the on Bruno Fernandes. Khoukhi shot at the goal from 2022 FIFA World Cup, have John Egan headed more than 35 yards to undo his already qualified for the global Ireland into a shock lead mistake, but was saved in the football spectacle. Qatar are from a corner on the stroke bottom left corner by the trying to amass experience of half-time after Diogo Serbian custodian Predrag Luka Jovic and Filip Djuricic as score stood the same before was thwarted in the centre of through playing against top Jota had hit the post for the Rajkovic. It was just before tried to give further troubles to the referee blew the half-time the goal before Serbia added teams in Europe in the hosts. Almoez Ali also tried to score Qatar with multiple attempts to whistle. a third through Vlahovic. Fol- Qualifiers. It looked as if it was with a shot from outside the score, but Al Annabi goalkeeper Upon resumption, Pedro lowing a pass made by Dju- Sanchez’s men will next going to be a frustrating box, but only to see the attempt Saad Al Sheeb did exceptionally Miguel, assisted by Almoez, ricic, Vlahovic’s left footed play Portugal on Saturday at the night for Ronaldo and his blocked by Rakjovic. well to disappoint the visitors shot at the goal but his attempt shot from the centre of the box same venue. side before the 36-year-old levelled the scores in the 89th minute to surpass Iranian Ali Daei's record of Former German international Özil visits Aspire Academy 109 goals with a towering header. He then produced The Peninsula – Doha a carbon copy in the sixth minute of stoppage time to Mesut Özil the German score goal number 111 and professional footballer secure all three points for and Fenerbahce the hosts. midfielder, is currently The result means in Qatar and took time manager Stephen Kenny to visit Aspire Academy remains without a compet- yesterday. itive win with Ireland, who Aspire Logistics sit joint bottom of Group A D i r e c t o r - G e n e r a l with no points from three Abdulla Nasser Al Naimi games. Portugal are top on led the 2014 World Cup 10 points after four games, winner and his team to three ahead of Serbia, who the Academy after a tour have played a game fewer. of Aspetar and they were met and welcomed The only two men to net to Aspire by Chief Sports more than 100 times Officer Tim Cahill along German star Mesut Özil with Aspire Academy officials during his visit yesterday. RIGHT: for their countries are with Director of Sport Ronaldo and Daei, who and Strategy, Markus Chief Sports Officer ofA spire Academy, former Australian Tim Cahill presenting scored 109 goals in 149 Egger, who went on to a shirt to the Fenerbahce midfielder yesterday. lead the tour. games for Iran from The former German interna- Academy and its impressive Aspire Academy for taking youth 1993-2006 and played tional player expressed his programmes. sport development to the highest for German clubs Bayern amazement at the ingenious way Özil who played for some of the level which makes Aspire the ref- Munich and Hertha Qatar has set to develop and nurture world’s top clubs including Real erence point for sports excellence Berlin. youth sporting talent through Aspire Madrid and Arsenal complimented for the rest of the world. THURSday 2 SEPTEMBER 2021 SPORT 15 Osaka reaches Round 3 on walkover; Halep, Muguruza advance

AP – NEW YORK the first match of the day at the New York area. Puddles filled Osaka would have been going Arthur Ashe Stadium. Instead, the the grounds around the Billie Jean for her 17th straight victory in a Defending champion Naomi US Tennis Association moved the King National Tennis Center, Grand Slam match. After missing Osaka advanced to the third 12th-seeded Halep’s match though rain had stopped as fans Wimbledon during a mental round of the US Open yesterday against Kristina Kucova into that began to enter for the day session. health break, she returned to the when her opponent withdrew spot. The outside courts were empty majors with a 6-4, 6-1 victory because of illness. Halep won 6-3, 6-1 to reach while they were being dried so over Marie Bouzkova on Monday and Garbiñe the third round for the first time play could eventually start. night. Muguruza also reached the third since a quarterfinal appearance Once they did, fifth-seeded The two-time US Open round, ending long absences in in 2016. She was knocked out in beat Rebeka champion hasn’t lost a Grand Flushing Meadows for the two- the first round in both 2017 and Masarova 6-2, 7-5, and No. Slam match since beat time Grand Slam champions. 2018. 20-seeded raced to a her at the 2020 . They were two of the few The ninth-seeded Muguruza 6-0, 6-1 victory over Maria Danilovic wrote on Instagram players to squeeze in victories got past the second round of the Camila Osorio Serrano in 53 that she was dealing with a viral early on a rainy afternoon, when US Open for the first time since minutes. illness unrelated to COVID-19. play started late and then was 2017 when she beat Andrea Most other players on the The 17-year-old Gauff was set suspended briefly on the outer Petkovic 6-4, 6-2. outer courts had to wait out for one of the featured matches courts. Theirs were two of the only another delay during their of the day, facing 2017 US Open Osaka had been scheduled to matches to start on time on a day matches, as fans raced for cover champion Sloane Stephens under face Olga Danilovic of Serbia in when heavy rain was expected in when rain returned. the lights at Ashe. Djokovic takes first 'unsteady'

step toward calendar Slam Garbine Muguruza of Spain hits a forehand shot against Andrea Petkovic of Germany during their US Open second REUTERS – NEW YORK but then I just lost the first serve. Novak Djokovic of round match yesterday. “I had until tonight tons of Serbia wipes his Novak Djokovic took a first experience playing on this court, face between points US Open Results unsteady step toward completing for him it was the first one. against Holger Vitus Men's Singles: Second Round the calendar-year Grand Slam on “Still you get nerves. You still Nodskov Rune of , Australia, def. Grigor Dimitrov (15), Bulgaria, 7-6 (4), Tuesday as the Serb laboured into are feeling a little bit rusty at the Denmark during 7-6 (4), 4-0, ret. the second round of the US Open beginning.” 2021 US Open at Pablo Andujar, Spain, def. Philipp Kohlschreiber, Germany, 6-4, 6-3, 6-1. with a 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-1 win The match got underway amid USTA Billie King (5), Russia, def. Pedro Martinez, Spain, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (5), over dashing Danish teenager a somewhat flat atmosphere National Tennis 6-1, 6-1. Holger Rune. inside Arthur Ashe Stadium but Center on Tuesday. On paper, the contest was a the crowd were chanting the little- Women's Singles: Second Round total mismatch - an 18-year-old known Dane’s name after he Naomi Osaka (3), Japan, def. Olga Danilovic, Serbia, walkover. qualifier making his Grand Slam stunned Djokovic to win the Ons Jabeur (20), Tunisia, def. Maria Camila Osorio Serrano, Colombia, debut against a player chasing a second set. 6-0, 6-1. 21st major title. Aside from that, it was a con- Garbine Muguruza (9), Spain, def. Andrea Petkovic, Germany, 6-4, 6-2. While the outcome was trolled effort from the 34-year- exactly what was expected, the old Djokovic, far different from Simona Halep (12), Romania, def. Kristina Kucova, Slovakia, 6-3, 6-1. effort needed by Djokovic to see the Serb’s last match on Arthur Elina Svitolina (5), Ukraine, def. Rebeka Masarova, Spain, 6-2, 7-5. off the fearless Dane, who battled Ashe Stadium court which ended Elise Mertens (15), Belgium, def. Valentini Grammatikopoulou, Greece, to the end despite suffering with him being disqualified after 6-2, 6-2. cramp, was not. swatting a ball in frustration that , Canada, def. , Estonia, 7-5, 7-5. “I started great. Played a struck a line judge. Victoria Azarenka (18), Belarus, def. Jasmine Paolini, Italy, 6-3, 7-6 (1). really, really good first set,” said The stone-faced world Djokovic. “After that, I don’t know, number one was all business and rolling through the set in just victory was now certain and the I was 4-3 serving in the second from the start, breaking his 26 minutes. Serb wrapped up the match by set, everything was working well, opponent at the first opportunity Playing his first event since a taking the fourth set 6-1. disappointing Tokyo Olympics “It was a crazy experience, Novak there were signs of rust and a lack playing against Novak on Arthur Djokovic of intensity, particularly in a Ashe is probably one of the dream speaks sloppy second set when Rune come true,” said Rune. to Holger broke him twice and forced the “To be able to win one set as Vitus set to tie-break that he easily won. well was great.” The Dane said his Nodskov But there was never any panic fitness struggles made winning Rune of from Djokovic, who turned up the “impossible”. Denmark pressure in the third with an early “I had high belief in myself after break to regain control as Rune throughout the whole match,” he winning his began to suffer cramp. added. “Unfortunately my fitness US Open As Rune grimaced with every let me down. I started cramping second step, Djokovic showed his ruthless already in the beginning of the side, moving the youngster from third set. I knew if I had to win, I round Andrey Rublev of Russia serves against Pedro Martinez line-to-line and taking the set 6-2. really had to fight for every point match on of Spain (not pictured) during their second round Rune was determined to battle but with my body at this point, it Tuesday. match yesterday. Rublev won 7-6 (2), 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-1. his way to the end but a Djokovic was impossible.”

Lionel Messi Atlético get Griezmann back, United return ‘the best Madrid left without Mbappé decision’, AP – MADRID Atletico Madrid’s French forward Antoine says Ronaldo Griezmann celebrates after scoring during a The transfer deadline ended with Spanish League match against Real Madrid Atlético Madrid getting Antoine in this file photo taken on February 09, 2019. Griezmann back and Real Madrid failing to seal a deal for Kylian I think it’s the best decision that I have Mbappé, settling instead for young made. It’s right on point in my midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, a opinion... I want to carry on again, to team-mate of Mbappé at the French make history, to try to help national team. Messi fit to play for Madrid couldn’t persuade Paris Manchester achieve great results, to Saint-Germain to sell its star win trophies and number one of them, Argentina despite despite offers that reportedly sur- to win great things. passed €200m ($236m). Sir Alex Ferguson is like a father in lack of game time Griezmann, meanwhile, football for me. He helped me a lot, he returned to Atlético on a loan deal REUTERS – CARACAS from cost-cutting Barcelona in taught me many things, and in my negotiations that saw Atlético’s Saul opinion of course he had a big role Lionel Messi is fit enough to play in Argen- Niguez move to Chelsea and because the relationship that we had, tina’s World Cup qualifiers this week in spite Sevilla’s Luuk de Jong join the we keep in touch all the time, and he’s of having played less than half an hour this Catalan club. success reaching a deal, meaning room by selling youngster Illaix an unbelievable person. season for his new club Paris Saint-Germain, The 30-year-old Griezmann it will likely have to wait until the Moriba to Leipzig and sending coach Lionel Scaloni said yesterday. returns to Atlético on a one-year end of the season to add Mbappé defender Emerson to Tottenham Well, we had a chat, but of course I’m “After talking with him I have no doubts,” loan with the option for another, to its squad. on a loan. going to have time to speak with him Scaloni told reporters the day before renewable by either club. He played Mbappé’s contract ends next Barcelona said the deal for the face to face, to know what he expects. Argentina face Venezuela in Caracas. two seasons with Barcelona, where year and he will be able to move to 18-year-old Moriba was worth My relationship with him is great and “Although he doesn’t have the same game he never quite found his stride since Spain for free. €16m ($19m) plus variables. The as I say before, I’m there in Manchester time (he had with Barcelona) he is going to joining on a fee of €120m ($142m). Madrid couldn’t secure Mbappé Catalan club will keep the right for play and we hope in all three games.” He had played five seasons under but brought in the 18-year-old 10% of any future sale of the player to help the team achieve his results Messi has not played a full match since coach Diego Simeone at Atlético. Camavinga from Rennes to freshen who made 18 first-team appear- and the coach can July 10, when he started for Argentina in the Barcelona said Atlético will pay a midfield that includes veterans ances since debuting last year. count on me for Copa America final. Griezmann’s wages, and that the Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Barcelona said Emerson was whatever he Much of his time since has been domi- deal included an obligatory per- Casemiro. sold to Tottenham for €25m wants: nated by his move to Paris after 18 years with manent transfer clause for an Camavinga, who signed a six- ($29.5m). Barcelona. The 34-year-old made his PSG undisclosed amount. year contract, was in the French Promoted Mallorca, whose Christiano debut on Sunday when he came on as a sub- City rival Madrid had a frus- squad along with Mbappé in the president is former American tennis Ronaldo stitute against Reims and played 24 minutes trating end to the transfer window Nations League last year. player Andy Kohlberg, signed US in the 2-0 win. as it couldn’t convince PSG to sell He made his debut for France’s striker Matthew Hoppe on a four- He trained with Argentina on Wednesday Mbappé. senior team in September last year. year contract. ahead of their three qualifiers. The twice PSG had confirmed last week At 17 years and 303 days, he Rayo Vallecano, also back in the world champions also play Brazil in Sao Paulo that Madrid offered about €160m became the third youngest player first division this season, was on Sept. 5 and Bolivia in Buenos Aires on Sept. ($189m) for the 22-year-old in the history of the national team. reported to have struck a deal to 9. They sit in second place behind Brazil in forward but it didn’t think it was Barcelona, which earlier in the sign Radamel Falcao, the 35-year- the 10-team South American qualifying group enough. The Spanish powerhouse transfer window lost Lionel Messi old veteran of Colombia’s national with the top four sides qualifying automati- reportedly increased its offer again to PSG because of its financial team who had been with cally for Qatar 2022. on Tuesday but again without struggles, made more salary cap Galatasaray. Sport THURSday 2 SEPTEMBER 2021 14 Pakistan drop India vow to deny red-hot Sarfaraz for ODIs Root fast start in Oval Test against New Zealand Tamim REUTERS – LONDON England’s Joe Root during AP – ISLAMABAD Iqbal a practice session. India have learnt their lessons Pakistan dropped former captain against England’s in-form yesterday from its 20-member squad for this Bangladesh’s captain Joe Root and are deter- month’s three-match one-day international series mined not to give him freebies against New Zealand. Tamim opts early in his knock, bowling coach Sarfaraz, a wicketkeeper-batsman, has played Bharat Arun said on the eve of only one of the last 10 ODIs - against South Africa the fourth Test at Oval from at Centurion in April. Mohammad Rizwan has been out of T20 today. Pakistan’s first choice wicketkeeper for more than Root smashed three cen- a year. World Cup turies in as many tests and is “Mohammad Rizwan remains the first-choice comfortably the leading scorer wicketkeeper,” chief selector Mohammad Wasim REUTERS – DHAKA in the five-Test series which said. “We continue to groom young wicketkeepers remains level at 1-1. who are fit and ready to step up when the oppor- Bangladesh opener Tamim The England skipper has tunity presents itself.” Iqbal opted out of this year’s looked in the form of his life, Twenty-year-old wicketkeeper Mohammad World Cup in the racking up six Test centuries this Haris was named in the ODI squad as a backup for United Arab Emirates (UAE) year and becoming the top- Rizwan. The other uncapped players include fast yesterday citing lack of game ranked Test batsman. bowlers Mohammad Wasim and Shahnawaz time as he continues to recover Arun agreed to the sug- on one occasion.” Arun said their Dahani, and leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood. from a knee injury. gestion that the otherwise tidy Headingley capitulation was an Root replaces Middle-order batsman Iftikhar Ahmed and Tamim hurt his knee during Indian bowlers might have fed aberration and the team knew Khushdil Shah were recalled after both last played the April-May tour of Sri Lanka an in-form batsman too many how to bounce back from such Williamson as No.1 in the ODI series against Zimbabwe last year in but chief selector Minhajul loose deliveries early in his comprehensive defeats. Pakistan. Abedin was optimistic Bangla- knock to make things easy for He recalled India being shot ranked Test batsman “We have continued to ensure that we give desh’s one-day captain would him. out for 36 in Adelaide and still REUTERS – LONDON opportunities to high performing players while regain his fitness ahead of the “You hit the nail on the winning the Test series in Aus- looking into the future so that we can develop a World Cup starting in October. head,” the former India bowler tralia and their come-from- England captain Joe Root replaced New strong bench-strength,” the chief selector said. “Game time is the biggest told a virtual news conference behind win in a subsequent home Zealand counterpart Kane Williamson as “Middle-order has remained our concern and, as reason. I haven’t been playing yesterday. series against England this year. the top-ranked Test batsman yesterday, such, after trying a few options, we have decided this format for a long time,” “We have given him pretty “We have done it in the past riding his red-hot form in the ongoing five- to give another run to Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Tamim, who played the last of fast starts, and obviously we and we can take confidence from test series against India. Shah.” his 78 Twenty20 Internationals looked deep into those areas, and what we have done in the past. Root began the series fifth in the Beside Sarfaraz, the selectors dropped batsmen in March 2020, said in a video we look to stem those.” In con- I’m sure you will see a much charts but smashed three centuries in as , Salman Ali Agha and Sohaib Maqsood posted on his Facebook page. trast, India’s own batting was more spirited performance in the many Tests against Virat Kohli’s men to from the team which last played an ODI series “I don’t think my injury is a dismal in the third Test at Head- coming Test matches.” reclaim the top position after a six-year against England in July. concern, because I think I’d be ingley, where the tourists were India have added seamer gap. New Zealand will arrive in Pakistan on Sept. 11 fit before the World Cup. The shot out for 78 en route to an Prasidh Krishna to their squad The 30-year-old is the leading scorer and will play the ODI series at the Pindi Cricket main reason is I don’t think it innings defeat. but Arun said it was merely a in the series with 507 runs from five Stadium in Rawalpindi on Sept. 17, 19 and 21. would be fair on those players Arun said their bowlers had precaution, considering the innings and has registered six Test hun- who have played in the last time and again defended low workload on the frontline dreds this year. Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem 15-16 T20 matches that I totals but were bound to fail bowlers. Australia run-machine Steve Smith is Ashraf, , Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar haven’t played.” Tamim’s occasionally. England have named all- third in the latest official rankings, ahead Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, selection in the World Cup “The biggest challenge for the rounder as the vice- of compatriot Marnus Labuschagne. squad was seen as a matter of bowlers is to defend low scores captain in the absence of - India opener Rohit Sharma com- , Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad him regaining his fitness and and they’ve done it in the past. I keeper Jos Buttler who misses pletes the top five, overtaking his Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, the 32-year-old said he was not don’t think it’s fair to pull up the the match to attend the birth of captain Kohli, who has had a subdued , Shahnawaz Dahani, and Zahid quitting the 20-overs format. bowlers if they have not done it his second child. series in England. Mahmood.

Toyota drivers Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, José María F1 considering options for Belgian GP ticket holders López, Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley Reuters – Stavelot, Belgium a couple of laps behind the robbed of a race and should get celebrate on the podium. safety car and without any over- their money back. Formula One said yesterday it taking allowed, with the podium “Formula One and the pro- was looking into various options celebration then held and half- moter are working through with the Belgian Grand Prix points awarded. various options for ticket promoter after calls for fans to Mercedes’ seven-times holders, to express our recog- be refunded for last Sunday’s world champion Lewis Hamilton nition and thanks to them for farcical race. said afterwards that the fans, their dedication and com- The rain-delayed race at who had waited for many hours mitment,” a Formula One Spa-Francorchamps ended after in the cold and wet, had been statement said.

Toyota make history with fourth 24 Hours of Le Mans win in a row The Peninsula – Le Mans Race Notes HEV. Despite some technical • No. 7 GR010 HEV (Mike Conway, Kamui challenges, close communi- Toyota celebrated another Kobayashi, and José María López) cation between the drivers and spectacular result recently with Position: 1st race engineers on both vehicles a one-two victory in the iconic No. of Laps: 371 ensured the team maintained 24 Hours of Le Mans. Mike Best Lap: 3’27.734 their lead, with Kobayashi and Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and • No. 8 GR010 HEV (Sébastien Buemi, Nakajima crossing the line José María López finally won at Kazuki Nakajima, and Brendon Hartley) together to make Hypercar Le Mans for the first time in the Position: 2nd history at Le Mans. No. 7 GR010 Hybrid Electric No. of Laps: 369 “To Kamui, Mike, and José, Vehicle (HEV). Best Lap: 3’27.607 congratulations! The #7 crew The World Champions finally got to the end of 24 hours started from pole position and and took the checkered flag on led for the majority of the race, hours began on a wet track with the highest step of the podium. completing 371 laps and Conway leading the field. Rain I was so happy and relieved that securing GAZOO Racing’s in the sixth hour caused several I could nearly cry. Huge con- fourth consecutive victory at incidents, including a gratulations! Thank you so the legendary Circuit de la 20-minute safety car, but López much,” said Akio Toyoda, Pres- Sarthe. maintained the lead while ident, Toyota Motor Last year’s winners Hartley followed in second in Corporate. Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki the No. 8 GR010 HEV. The two José María López , Driver of Nakajima and Brendon Hartley vehicles continued to lead the the No. 7 GR010 HEV, said: “To completed a perfect result for race, with slow zones and safety finally win this race is a dream the team by finishing second in cars contributing to a fluctu- come true. It is simply amazing. the No. 8 GR010 HEV. GAZOO ating gap as the GR team held We came so far for so many Racing (GR) has now won all a clear lead over the chasing years but, up to now, we couldn’t four races of the 2021 FIA pack. win Le Mans. All those experi- World Endurance Champi- As the race entered its final ences make the victory even onship (WEC) so far during the 12 hours, Kobayashi had more special. Mike and Kamui new GR010 HEV’s debut stretched the lead to just over are like brothers to me, and I season. half a minute, with Hartley have seen them doing things in An incident-packed 24 chasing in the No. 8 GR010 the car which are just amazing.” Over the years, Toyota has been participating in many dif- ferent forms of motorsports, ‎including Formula One, the World Endurance Champi- onship (WEC), and the Nürbur- gring 24 ‎Hours endurance race. Toyota’s participation in these events was overseen by sep- arate ‎entities within the company until April 2015, when Toyota established GR ‎to con- solidate all of its motorsports activities under one in-house brand.