While widely predicted, Fernando Alonso's win in the World Endurance Championship with Toyota on Saturday was still labeled a "fantastic debut" by the Spaniard.
The #8 Toyota's day at Spa went largely unchallenged, by rivals or circumstances, with Alonso, Sebastien Buemi and Kozuki Nakajima routinely running through their respective stints and falling free of any major drama, leading home in the end the Japanese team's sister #7 sister car of Conway-Kobayashi-Lopez.
"It was a nice debut, definitely," said an ecstatic Alonso, who conquered his first win since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix!
"In the race I think we led basically all the laps. We had three safety cars, so we lost the advantage we had, but we just kept the position until the last lap.
©Toyota
"Fantastic debut, first endurance race in the world championship, amazing job by the team, one-two in qualifying and one-two in the race. Kazuki, and Sebastien in the start, made my life a little bit easier.
"I was saying to the guys, this is so nice to feel the podium, I will be here all night long. Pick me up in the morning, I will try and sleep here!"
Just as important as the race result itself, the victorious run in Spa 6 Hours provided Alonso - and Toyota - was the perfect dress rehearsal for next month's Le Mans 24 Hours.
The legendary event is the huge 'piece de résistance' of the McLaren driver's WEC super season, and perhaps the second jewel in Alonso's triple crown ambition.
©Toyota
"Definitely this is a warm-up for Le Mans," he said;
"Like a test but with points at the end of the chequered flag.”
“We wanted to test ourselves in a proper race conditions with other teams, the drivers' stress, the mechanics' stress, everyone in racing conditions. And we delivered a one-two, so I think we are ready for Le Mans.
"Definitely the race is a lot tougher, 24 hours, a lot of issues may appear but we are as prepared as possible so I think we will go with confidence into the race."
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