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INTERNATIONAL WRAP: WEC SPA, MOTOGP SPAIN AND MORE

Toyota Dominate WEC at Spa-Francorchamps - Photo: LAT

By Bruce Williams

Toyota Dominate WEC at Spa-Francorchamps - Photo: LAT

Toyota Dominate WEC at Spa-Francorchamps – Photo: LAT

WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP – 6 HOURS OF SPA

Toyota have dominated the World Endurance Championship (WEC) 6 Hours of Spa overnight with a commanding 1-2 finish.

The No. 8 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 HYBRID of Sébastien Buemi, Anthony Davidson and Kazuki Nakajima fended off a late challenge from teammates Kamui Kobayashi and Mike Conway to take the win by just 1.992 seconds.

Kobayashi and Conway, whose third driver José María López in the No. 7 Toyota was ruled out earlier in the weekend with a back injury, were in prime position to take the win earlier in the race. However unfortunate timing of the two full course yellow flag periods saw them lose the lead to the No. 8.

Kiwi’s Brendon Hartley and Earl Bamber (along with Timo Bernhard) took out the final spot on the podium with the No. 2 Porsche 919 Hybrid.

In LMP2 Alex Lynn, Roman Rusinov and Pierre Thiriet took the class victory in the No. 26 G-Drive Racing entry.

While GTE Pro went to the No. 71 AF Course Ferrari of Davide Rigon and Sam Bird. GTE Am honors went to the No. 98 Aston Martin Racing car of Paul Dalla Lana, Mathias Lauda and Pedro Lamy.

Buemi, Davidson and Nakajima continue to the lead the WEC points standing, on 50 points, with their second consecutive win.

MOTOGP – SPANISH GP

Dani Pedrosa claims victory at his home MotoGP - Photo: LAT

Dani Pedrosa claims victory at his home MotoGP – Photo: LAT

Dani Pedrosa has taken a commanding lights to flag victory at his home MotoGP race at Jerez.

The Repsol Honda Team rider qualified on pole and was never really challenged in Spain, taking a comfortable win ahead of his teammate Marc Marquez.

Back in third, the battle for the final spot on the podium was intense with several riders in contention early in the race. In the end the battle would come down to Ducati’s Jorge Lorenzo and Yamaha’s Johann Zarco. Five time champion, Lorenzo, gaining the upper hand before the chequered flag.

Further down the order, Aussie Jack Miller, was the unfortunate victim in contact with Alvaro Bautista, ending his race prematurely.

After the Spanish MotoGP, Valentino Rossi maintains a narrow two point lead over Movistar Yamaha team mate Maverick Viñales in the championship

In Moto2 Alex Marquez followed in his brothers foot steps to take out the win. While Aron Canet claim the Moto3 win.

NASCAR – TALLADEGA

First NASCAR Cup Series win for Ricky Stenhouse Jr at Talladega - Photo: LAT

First NASCAR Cup Series win for Ricky Stenhouse Jr at Talladega – Photo: LAT

Ricky Stenhouse Jr has claimed his first NASCAR Cup victory at the Talladega Superspeedway.

After starting from pole, Stenhouse Jr stayed out of trouble during the opening stages of the race. Taking a thrilling win after the final caution period, for Ryan Newman’s crash, in a Green, White, Chequered dash to the end.

The Talladega race was marked by it’s traditional “Big One” on Lap 168 that saw 18 cars damaged and taken out of the race. Contact between the No. 24 of Chase Elliott and the No. 47 of AJ Allmendinger left Elliot flying through the air, while Allmendinger finished up on it’s roof.

Both drivers walked away relatively unscathed, but the race was red flagged for over 26 minutes to clean up the debris.

INTERNATIONAL AUSSIES

Piastri competing in British F4 at Thruxton - Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Piastri competing in British F4 at Thruxton – Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Oscar Piastri has had a successful weekend in the British Formula, read the full article here.

Get the full run down on all the international motorsport action in the current issue of Auto Action on sale now.