Toyota #7 loses Spa WEC pole, Alonso promoted to P1

The FIA World Endurance Championship officials have confirmed the #7 Toyota has been excluded from qualifying for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, promoting Fernando Alonso onto pole position for his debut in the series.

Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi combined to lead Toyota to pole position for the season-opening race at Spa on Friday, finishing three-tenths of a second clear of Alonso and co-driver Kazuki Nakajima in the #8 Toyota, which finished P2.

However, the #7 Toyota will now start tomorrow's race from the pit lane after it was found that the fuel flow meter on the car did not comply with the equipment declaration form, resulting in its lap times being cancelled.

"During the hearing, the competitor accepted the fact stated in the technical report. Consequently the car didn't comply with the equipment declaration form and the lap times have to be cancelled," the stewards' document reads.

"For safety reasons, the stewards decided that the car has to start from the pit lane."

The decision promotes Alonso, Nakajima and Sebastien Buemi onto pole position for tomorrow's race, which starts at 12:30pm BST on Saturday.