TOYOTA GAZOO Racing takes historic Hypercar title double JCN Newswire

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing takes historic Hypercar title double

November 14, 2022
TOKYO, Nov 14, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing earned a dominant one-two victory in the season-ending 8 Hours of Bahrain to secure a clean sweep of FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) titles.Outgoing World Champions Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez took a hard-earned win, their second of the season in their #7 GR010 HYBRID, to crown TOYOTA GAZOO Racing as Hypercar manufacturers' World Champions. Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa, in the #8 GR010 HYBRID, had started the weekend level on points with their Alpine title rivals but finished second to become drivers' World Champions, adding to their 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours win. Sebastien and Brendon write their names in the record books as the first drivers to win three titles in the top category of WEC or its predecessor, the World Sportscar Championship. Ryo, a Le Mans winner in June, capped a remarkable rookie season by becoming Japan's third WEC champion. A perfect result in Bahrain was a fitting end to a successful season for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, which now has a fifth world title double from 10 years of WEC competition, adding to a roll of honour in 2022 which includes a fifth consecutive Le Mans win and eighth victory at Fuji Speedway. Success in WEC ensures TOYOTA GAZOO Racing achieves the unique feat of winning every available title, eight in total, in the three FIA series it participated in this season: the World Endurance, World Rally and World Rally Raid Championships. The race began under bright Bahraini sunshine, with air temperatures of 35degC, and the on-track action was equally hot. Sebastien led from pole while Jose fought with the #36 Alpine, losing third at the start before regaining the place three laps later, following a safety car period. Sebastien held off the challenge of the #93 Peugeot, with Jose firmly in contention in third. Just six seconds covered the top three when the opening pit stops arrived after an hour, during which Jose leapfrogged the #93 for second and closed to the rear of the #8, before Sebastien edged out an advantage. When a technical problem sidelined the #93 after two hours, a full course yellow allowed both GR010 HYBRIDs to swap drivers. Brendon took over the #8, with Mike in the #7, and they battled throughout their first stint, separated by less than a second until Mike took the lead early in the fourth hour as the sun set over Bahrain International Circuit. Mike pushed hard to build a gap and at half distance he led by a few seconds going into the next pit stops, when Kamui took the wheel. A lap later, Brendon's stint ended and Ryo brought the #8 back on track directly behind the #7. Kamui gradually extended his advantage to 15 seconds by the end of the fifth hour, doubling the #7 car's lead over the next hour before Jose and Sebastien returned to their respective cockpits with less than two hours remaining. Further driver changes with 45 minutes to go left Mike to take the chequered flag, finishing 45.471secs clear of Brendon in the #8. That triggered title celebrations to bring the curtain down on an exciting Hypercar season after 58 hours of competition covering 10,620km since the first race in Sebring eight months ago. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has one remaining appointment in the 2022 season, the official WEC rookie test at Bahrain International Circuit. LMP2 driver Lilou Wadoux has been nominated by WEC to drive the GR010 HYBRID and she will therefore become the first female Hypercar driver during Sunday's test.Kamui Kobayashi (Team Principal and driver, car #7):"We achieved a one-two, Seb, Brendon and Ryo won the drivers' title and we won the manufacturers' championship so we hit all our targets for this race. I am really pleased with that. The team did a great job today and all season, as did the drivers. Thanks for all their support, as well as the support from our colleagues in Japan and our partners who have helped us all through the season. This year we faced strong competition and we finished with the best possible result. It's a great feeling to end with a win; Mike and Jose drove a strong race and the crew performed well as they have done all year. On our car, we missed the drivers' title but car #8 really deserved it and I am happy for them. All season the team and drivers have worked really hard, with a great team spirit, so I hope everyone can enjoy this moment and celebrate the titles."Mike Conway (Driver, car #7):"It feels great to win the race and be part of a one-two for the team. Congratulations to Kamui, Jose and the whole #7 crew who did a stellar job here, and also to car #8 on the championship, they had a really consistent, strong year so fully deserve it. Our race went very well and it was a close fight for a lot of the eight hours. Car #8 kept us on our toes as always until Kamui pulled out a good gap which made it more comfortable. Everyone on our car executed really well today, with a nice clean race, good pit stops and the right strategy. It's fantastic to win the manufacturers' title again; thanks to everyone in Japan, Cologne and all the other people who have made this happen."Jose Maria Lopez (Driver, car #7):"Well done to the guys on car #8 who really deserve this championship after a very strong season; hats off to them. And congratulations to the whole team in Cologne and in Japan, and to all the people and partners working behind the scenes to help us succeed. It has been a year with intense competition but we have achieved our objectives so I am very happy. I really enjoyed starting the race today, it's good fun to battle closely with all the other Hypercars. Mike and Kamui performed really well which made it easier for me when I jumped back in towards the end. We have a great group and I couldn't be prouder to be part of it. It is really a pleasure to be part of this team and enjoy moments like this."Sebastien Buemi (Driver, car #8):"It's amazing to win the World Championship this year. We maximised all the opportunities and doing the double of Le Mans and the title is an amazing feeling. Special credit to Ryo because he came into the team as a newcomer and he won in his first year. It is not easy to jump into a Hypercar and fight at the front against such strong competition but he has been an amazing team-mate. Car #7 is always strong and it is never easy to beat them, as they showed today. We wanted to win the race and take the title in style but, despite a competitive start, we just didn't have enough today. We will enjoy this feeling and then look to next year which will be a really exciting one."Brendon Hartley (Driver, car #8):"I am really pleased to complete the job here and win both World Championships. I don't think it has really sunk in yet that we are champions again, but I'm sure it will soon. Thanks to everyone on the team for their fantastic support all year to give us a car to win the title and Le Mans. Today our objective was simply to beat Alpine and secure the title; we couldn't afford to take any risks just to get the race win. Car #7 had the pace and deserved the victory, so well done to them. They have been tough competitors all year and it has been fiercely fought, also with Alpine who kept us honest. We worked hard for this title and it is a credit to the whole team."Ryo Hirakawa (Driver, car #8):"Today we achieved everything we wanted to, so I am very happy and I will enjoy this moment with the team, who really deserve it. It doesn't feel real yet, I need some time to get used to it. It has been challenging to race a Hypercar in WEC for the first time; everything was new to me. I didn't expect to win Le Mans and the World Championship in my first year so thanks a lot to the team and my team-mates for helping me settle in and become stronger over the season. I was really patient in the race today because I knew the championship situation and it was just important that I didn't take any risks. My target was to hand the car over in a strong position and I achieved that, so I was happy."8 Hours of Bahrain - Result1st #7 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 245 laps2nd #8 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +45.471secs3rd #36 Alpine Elf Team (Negrao/Lapierre/Vaxiviere) +2 laps4th #94 Peugeot TotalEnergies (Duval/Menezes/Muller) +6 laps5th #31 WRT (Galael/Frijns/Vanthoor) +8 laps6th #23 United Autosports USA (Lynn/Jarvis/Pierson) +8 lapsFor more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wec/release/2022/rd06-race/. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
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John Lineker vs. Fabricio Andrade Main Event Ends in No Contest After Unintentional Foul Stops Fight ACN Newswire

John Lineker vs. Fabricio Andrade Main Event Ends in No Contest After Unintentional Foul Stops Fight

October 22, 2022
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - ONE Championship(TM)(ONE) made a triumphant return to the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with a thrilling night of martial arts action. ONE on Prime Video 3: Lineker vs. Andrade featured a series of exciting matchups, headlined by three World Title bouts.John Lineker vs. Fabricio Andrade Main Event Ends in No Contest After Unintentional Foul Stops FightAgilan Thani (L) defeats Germany's Ilja Stojanov (R) via submission (rear-naked choke)Agilan Thani (L) defeats Germany's Ilja Stojanov (R) at ONE on Prime Video 3's In-Stadium After Main EventONE Championship, in partnership with leading premium lifestyle and luxury performance brand TUMI, presented the prestigious ONE World Title belt to the World Champions.ONE on Prime Video 3 Photo Gallery: https://tinyurl.com/yn93zu83ONE on Prime Video 3 Official Scorecards: https://tinyurl.com/3ejexxt6The main event showdown between former ONE Bantamweight World Champion John Lineker and #2-ranked contender Fabricio Andrade ended in controversy midway through the third round, after Andrade connected with an unintentional knee to Lineker's groin.The two bitter rivals traded bombs from the sound of the opening bell, with "Wonder Boy" looking to push forward behind a stinging right jab. Lineker found openings to land his thunderous hooks, rocking Andrade in the second round. However, the younger fighter did considerable damage to Lineker with his striking, causing the veteran's right eye to nearly close by the end of the frame.In the third stanza, Andrade connected with a knee to the midsection and had Lineker reeling in pain. "Wonder Boy" tried to follow up with another knee, but it unintentionally landed south of the waistline. After a five-minute recovery period, Lineker could no longer continue. The fight was ruled a no contest and the ONE Bantamweight World Title now remains vacant.In the co-main event, Regian Eersel became a two-sport ONE World Champion, capturing the inaugural ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Title behind an efficient striking display against Thai star Sinsamut Klinmee. Action was fierce throughout the five-round contest, with both men trading combinations while taking each other's best shots. Sinsamut was game from start to end, wearing Eersel's damage on his face well. But the Dutch-Surinamese fighter was just too good, as "The Immortal" increased his aggression in the championship rounds to take the split-decision victory.Teenage Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sensation Kade Ruotolo captured the inaugural ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Title, defeating multi-time Sambo World Champion Uali Kurzhev via heel hook. Ruotolo was constantly on the attack, but once he trapped Kurzhev in a leg lock situation, the American grabbed ahold of the heel and put pressure on the knee to force the tap. Ruotolo also received a US$50,000 bonus for his performance.In a featherweight kickboxing contest, Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong and Mohammed Boutasaa figured in an all-out war of attrition for three rounds. The two met each other at the center of the Circle and looked to trade bombs in the opening stanza. Boutasaa went on the offensive in round two, as Sitthichai opted to lay back and counter. In the third frame, the Thai star came alive, moving forward with a sense of purpose. In the end, all three judges saw the bout in favor of Sitthichai to win by unanimous decision.ONE Championship newcomer Shamil Gasanov made quick work of #2-ranked featherweight MMA contender Kim Jae Woong in his promotional debut, submitting the South Korean dynamo with a rear-naked choke in the first round. Gasanov closed the distance early and swiftly took Kim's back with an explosive takedown. After a quick scramble, the Russian's left arm wound up underneath Kim's chin as he cranked out the rear-naked choke. His performance earned him a US$50,000 bonus.READ: Gasanov, Miado, Grandjean Score Highlight-Reel Finishes In The MMA Fights At ONE On Prime Video 3: https://tinyurl.com/m7y9jdk3READ: Sitthichai, Naito, Zatout Victorious At ONE On Prime Video 3: Lineker Vs. Andrade: https://tinyurl.com/2p9yvfe7Performance bonus winners: Kade Ruotolo (US$50,000), Shamil Gasanov (US$50,000), Mehdi Zatout (US$50,000), Noelle Grandjean (US$50,000)MAIN CARDMMA - Catchweight (145.50 lbs): John Lineker vs. Fabricio Andrade is declared a no contest in round threeMuay Thai - Lightweight: Regian Eersel def. Sinsamut Klinmee via Split DecisionSubmission Grappling - Catchweight (174.00 lbs): Kade Ruotolo def. Uali Kurzhev via Submission (Heel Hook) at 4:26Kickboxing - Featherweight: Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong def. Mohammed Boutasaa via Unanimous DecisionMMA - Featherweight: Shamil Gasanov def. Kim Jae Woong via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:09 of R1LEAD CARDMMA - Catchweight (127.00 lbs): Jeremy Miado def. Danial Williams via TKO at 0:31 of R3Muay Thai - Flyweight: Taiki Naito def. Amir Naseri via Unanimous DecisionMuay Thai - Bantamweight: Mehdi Zatout def. Asa Ten Pow via TKO at 3:00 of R1MMA - Catchweight (116.75 lbs): Noelle Grandjean def. Lea Bivins via TKO at 4:01 of R1IN-STADIUM (AFTER EVENT)MMA - Featherweight: Yoon Chang Min def. Keanu Subba via Unanimous DecisionMMA - Welterweight: Agilan Thani def. Ilja Stojanov via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:48 of R2About ONE Championship(TM)ONE is the world's largest martial arts organization, ranking among the world's top five sports properties for viewership and engagement with a cumulative reach of over 400 million fans, according to Nielsen. ONE produces and distributes world-class events across more than 150 countries, featuring martial artists and World Champions from over 80 nations and all styles of martial arts including MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and more. ONE can be viewed on many of the largest global free-to-air and digital broadcasters, including Prime Video Sports, ELEVEN Sports, Star Sports, Beijing TV, iQIYI, One Sports, Abema, IB, NET TV, Vidio, Startimes, Mediapro, Thairath TV, VieOn, Skynet, Mediacorp, Spark Sport, Match TV, Dubai Sports, RedeTV and more. Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
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Jonathan Di Bella Wins Vacant ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title With Unanimous Decision Over Zhang Peimian ACN Newswire

Jonathan Di Bella Wins Vacant ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title With Unanimous Decision Over Zhang Peimian

October 22, 2022
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - ONE Championship(TM) (ONE) returned to the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with ONE 162: Zhang vs. Di Bella. The card featured a series of all-striking and MMA matchups along with a battle for the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title.Zhang Peimian and Jonathan Di Bella [L-R]ONE Championship, in partnership with leading premium lifestyle and luxury performance brand TUMI, presented the prestigious ONE World Title belt to the World Champion.ONE 162: Zhang vs. Di Bella Photo Gallery https://tinyurl.com/4nspeasmJonathan Di Bella ONE 162 Post-Fight Interview https://tinyurl.com/mr3sps5vIn the main event, ONE Championship newcomer Jonathan Di Bella scored an impressive unanimous decision victory over Chinese teen phenom Zhang Peimian to capture the vacant ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title.Di Bella came out of the gates firing, putting the pressure on Zhang who retreated toward the Circle Wall. As the undefeated Italian-Canadian star pressed on, "Fighting Rooster" opted to lay back and counter, attacking with a myriad of leg kicks. However, Di Bella blitzed Zhang with quick and powerful punching combinations to keep the Chinese fighter honest.The bout was close leading up to the fifth and final round, but Di Bella pulled away when he connected with a dramatic left head kick that sent Zhang crashing to the canvas. With the 19-year-old on unsteady footing, Di Bella tried to close the show, but both men reached the final bell.In the co-main event, fifth-ranked flyweight contender and BJJ black belt Reece McLaren put on a striking clinic against Windson Ramos, showcasing a facet of his game that's been continually improving since be began training under Muay Thai legend John Wayne Parr. The 31-year-old from Australia found a home for his straight right hand on Ramos' chin, hurting the Brazilian repeatedly with the same shot. McLaren dominated the striking exchanges throughout, and with Ramos unable to answer the bell for the third round, "Lightning" secured the technical knockout victory.Constantin Rusu scored his second straight win in the Circle, besting former ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title challenger Islam Murtazaev. Rusu was persistent with his offense, pushing the pace against a more timid Murtazaev, who just couldn't find his rhythm. The Moldovian-Russian's unending pressure and activity was enough to earn him the nod from all three judges, as he outworked Murtazaev across three rounds.Fourth-ranked strawweight contender Gustavo Balart took out former ONE Strawweight World Champion Alex Silva in a closely contested three-round catchweight contest. Silva, a multiple-time BJJ World Champion, took matters to the canvas early, where he had the advantage in the grappling department. The 40-year-old veteran was constantly on the attack with a variety of submissions, but Balart showcased excellent defense on the mat. On the feet, the Cuban connected with a series of clean strikes, highlighted by an overhand left that often hit the mark throughout the contest. In the end, judges saw the bout in favor of Balart to win by split decision. It is his second straight victory over a former ONE Strawweight World Champion after beating Yosuke Saruta last time out.Former ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title challenger Jimmy Vienot took care of business against Niclas Larsen in a heated all-striking battle. Third-ranked contender Vienot was sharp to start the fight, forcing #5-ranked Larsen on the back foot with pinpoint combinations. A cut opened up above Vienot's left eye in the second round, and Larsen turned up the pressure. But as the Danish fighter went on the attack, Vienot regained control in the third and came away with a unanimous decision for his efforts.Eko Roni Saputra continued his stunning run in the flyweight MMA division, dominating Yodkaikaew Fairtex and then submitting the Thai with a heel hook in the first round. Saputra closed the distance immediately at the sound of the opening bell and successfully took Yodkaikaew to the mat. On the ground, Saputra went to work, locking in the submission just past the two-minute mark to force the tap. It was the Indonesian phenom's seventh straight victory, all coming via first-round finish. Saputra earned a US$50,000 bonus for his performance.READ: Saputra And McLaren Dominate, Balart Topples Silva In MMA Action At ONE 162 https://tinyurl.com/yc8mu7v7READ: Rusu, Vienot, Puric Emerge Victorious In All-Striking Action At ONE 162 https://tinyurl.com/35kvapb9Performance bonus winner: Eko Roni Saputra (US$50,000)MAIN CARDKickboxing - Strawweight: Jonathan Di Bella def. Zhang Peimian via Unanimous DecisionMMA - Flyweight: Reece McLaren def. Windson Ramos via TKO at 5:00 of R2Kickboxing - Catchweight (173.25 lbs): Constantin Rusu def. Islam Murtazaev via Unanimous DecisionMMA - Catchweight (130.75 lbs): Gustavo Balart def. Alex Silva via Split DecisionMuay Thai - Featherweight: Jimmy Vienot def. Niclas Larsen via Unanimous DecisionMMA - Flyweight: Eko Roni Saputra def. Yodkaikaew Fairtex via Submission (Heel Hook) at 2:16 of R1LEAD CARDMMA - Bantamweight: Artem Belakh def. Leandro Issa via Unanimous DecisionMuay Thai - Catchweight (137.5 lbs): Denis Puric def. Tagir Khalilov via Unanimous DecisionMMA - Welterweight: Ruslan Emilbek Uulu def. Ben Wilhelm via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:58 of R1For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com or follow us on:Facebook: www.facebook.com/ONEChampionshipInstagram: www.instagram.com/ONEChampionshipTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ONEChampionshipTwitter: www.twitter.com/ONEChampionshipYouTube: www.youtube.com/ONEChampionshipSnapchat: https://story.snapchat.com/@onechampionshipAbout ONE Championship(TM)ONE is the world's largest martial arts organization, ranking among the world's top five sports properties for viewership and engagement with a cumulative reach of over 400 million fans, according to Nielsen. ONE produces and distributes world-class events across more than 150 countries, featuring martial artists and World Champions from over 80 nations and all styles of martial arts including MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and more. ONE can be viewed on many of the largest global free-to-air and digital broadcasters, including Prime Video Sports, ELEVEN Sports, Star Sports, Beijing TV, iQIYI, One Sports, Abema, IB, NET TV, Vidio, Startimes, Mediapro, Thairath TV, VieOn, Skynet, Mediacorp, Spark Sport, Match TV, Dubai Sports, RedeTV and more. Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
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F.C.C. TSR Honda France Fights Back to Win Second FIM Endurance World Championship Title JCN Newswire

F.C.C. TSR Honda France Fights Back to Win Second FIM Endurance World Championship Title

September 19, 2022
Le Castellet, France, Sep 19, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - F.C.C. TSR Honda France, running second in the 2022 FIM* Endurance World Championship (EWC), made a comeback to win this year's championship in the final round, the Bol d'Or 2022, held at Circuit Paul Ricard on September 17 - 18. The team has won the title for the second time, its first in the 2017-2018 season.F.C.C. TSR Honda France kicked off its 2022 campaign with riders Josh Hook (29 years old, Australia), Geno Rea (33 years old, UK) and Mike Di Meglio (24 years old, France) on a Honda CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP.In the season-opener, the 24 Heures Motos held at Le Mans, the team qualified third, and finished third. In Round 2, the 24H SPA EWC Motos, the team started fourth on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps grid, and although down to tenth place mid-race, made a dramatic comeback to fourth, and a last lap charge by Rea gave them third in the final results.In Round 3, the Suzuka 8 Hours, held for the first time in three years, Rea crashed during free practice and was transported by helicopter to a hospital. Hook and Di Meglio was left to ride the eight-hour classic at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie. They qualified fourth, and although they faced numerous problems throughout the race, reclaimed places and finished tenth.F.C.C. TSR Honda France headed into the final round, the Bol d'Or 2022, second overall, 23 points behind the series leader. Alan Techer (28 years old, France), one of the riders in the team's previous victory in 2017-2018, stood in for Rea, in the hope that his experience will help them reclaim the title. The team started from fourth on the grid at 3:00 pm on the 17th. Two incidents sent their placing down to 28th, but consistent and determined riding brought the team back up to 4th place by the time the race ended at 3:00 pm on the 18th. As other championship contenders fail to complete the race, F.C.C. TSR Honda France won the overall championship.Josh Hook | F.C.C. TSR Honda France"I have learned from the past to never take a result for granted before the chequered flag. We have come back from complicated situations in the past and nothing is ever certain. Like everyone else, we did our race and never gave up. We did very well, all three of us were fast, especially at night. We were quickly no longer in a position to fight for victory, so we focused on the championship, which was clearly the priority goal. We chose to take care of the engine as much as possible to avoid the problems that most of our competitors have. And it's done!"Mike Di Meglio | F.C.C. TSR Honda France"I'm very happy to finally be World Endurance Champion! I came so close with GMT94 and I'm really proud of this title after so many years of fighting for it. It was a really tough race. We had some problems and our opponents were forced to stop one after the other. When Tati Team #4 was fighting at the front, we decided to build up enough of a gap to our chaser to get out of trouble. But when they dropped down the rankings, we changed our strategy to preserve the engine as much as possible by shifting earlier on the straight. It was the best thing to do because the world championship was more important than a podium finish."Alan Techer | F.C.C. TSR Honda France"It was a complicated race for everyone, we also had some mechanical problems. The team worked hard to reduce the time spent in the pits and, with my teammates, we did our best to respect the race plan. The objective was clearly the title, and after the Suzuki's retirement, we battled with the Tati Team, my former team. This is a special emotion for me, because I win this title with the team that had already given me the chance to be champion in 2018. We also have a big thought for Gino to whom we dedicate this title."* FIM: Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
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