Should a driver whose mistake at the Sebring WEC opener resulted in a DNF really be this high in the list? Yes, if you consider the way the Argentinian performed under pressure at Le Mans in June.
Lopez’s seat at Toyota was under threat, but he produced his best performance of the season. He was the quickest of the trio in the second-placed #7 Toyota over the full distance, more than two tenths up on Kobayashi. In the race’s final third when #7 was playing catch-up, he was head and shoulders clear at the top of the Toyota pack. Top drivers perform when the chips are down.