Toyota looks to snatch 6th Le Mans victory

MANILA: Toyota will return to Le Mans, looking to take home its sixth win at the legendary French endurance race.

Per the Japanese carmaker’s racing division, Toyota Gazoo Racing will enter two cars (#7 GR010 Hybrid and #8 GR010 Hybrid) to go head-to-head with teams from brands like Alpine, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Isotta Fraschini, Lamborghini, Peugeot, and Porsche.

“Everyone in the team — at Higashi-Fuji, Cologne, the wider Toyota family, and our partners — has been working flat-out for a year to be ready for Le Mans,” Gazoo Racing Team Principal Kamui Kobayashi said.

“We have an intense 10 days ahead of us, against strong competition, and we must be on top of our game to challenge at the front. We need all our team spirit, experience, and effort to challenge for another Le Mans win but we are all determined to do that. It’s a special race with a unique atmosphere thanks to the fans from around the world who support us. From the scrutineering in the city until the podium, we feel their support and it drives us on. I can’t wait to be there again and be part of it,” he added.

The cockpit of the #7 car will be shared by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries. The group recently won at Imola earlier this season. Meanwhile, the #8 car will be driven by the team of Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa — the reigning World Champions.

On that note, five of the six drivers flying the Toyota Gazoo Racing banner has already stood on top of the Le Mans podium. Buemi has four victories while Hartley has three. On the other hand, Conway, Kobayashi, and Hirakawa have one win under their belts.

Former Formula 1 driver de Vries will make his top-class debut at Le Mans.

“Le Mans is one of the most iconic and prestigious races in the world. For everyone participating in WEC (World Endurance Championship), it’s the biggest race of the year and the one that everyone wants to win; that’s definitely the case for us,” de Vries noted.

“It’s my first Le Mans as a Toyota race driver and I am very excited about that. I was part of the team in 2022 as test driver and have raced there in LMP2, but now I will hopefully be fighting for overall victory. It’s an exciting era and it’s going to be a real fight with so many teams and manufacturers. I am looking forward to the marathon week when hopefully Le Mans will choose us,” he added.

The upcoming Le Mans 24-hour race will be held at the La Sarthe circuit from June 15-16, 2024.

Photos from Toyota

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