24 Hours of Le Mans: Toyota Gazoo Racing

WECHyperCar

May 27

After 5 consecutive wins at Le Mans and three victories and two doubles this season, Toyota GR010 are definitively the favorites for the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

5 wins in a row at the 24 hours of Le Mans

All fans of the 24 Hours of Le Mans remember Toyota's disappointments in 2014, 2016 especially with the retirement of Kazuki Nakajima's Toyota #5, which came to a standstill less than five minutes from the finish, and 2017 with the 8th place of the #8. The wheel finally turned in 2018 with a first double and wins every year since.

In 2018 the winning #8 Toyota TS015 Hybrid driven by Sébastien Buemi, Fernando Alonso and Kazuki Nakajima covered 388 laps, crossing the checkered flag 2 laps ahead of sister car #7.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 2018

In 2019, Sébastien Buemi, Fernando Alonso and Kazuki Nakajima won for a second time in a row with the #8 Toyota TS015 Hybrid covering 385 laps, 60 meters ahead of sister car #7.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 2019

In 2020, the Japanese manufacturer didn’t succeed the double for a third time in a row at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2020 as #7 Toyota ended third. Still, it was the third win in a row for #8 Toyota TS015 Hybrid driven by Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima co-driven by Brendon Hartley replacing Alonso that season.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Lone Star Le Mans 2020, the last race before COVID. Restricted media made that we were not present at that 24 Hours edition. #8 Toyota TS015 Hybrid driven by Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley

Toyota Gazoo Racing entered a new car for the 2021 season: the GR010 Hybrid. #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid driven by Mike Conway, Jose Maria Lopez and Kamui Kobayashi ended the continuous wins of sister #8 by winning the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans covering 371 laps, 2 laps ahead of #8.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 2021

Last year was the fifth win in a row by Toyota Gazoo Racing with #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid driven by Sébastien Buemi (fourth win), Brendon Hartley (second win) and Ryo Hirakawa (first win). Both cars ended in the same lap marking the fourth double of the manufacturer in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 2022. #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid driven by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa.

The Toyota Gazoo Racing’s five Le Mans-winning cars from 2018-2022 will be displayed at the Le Mans 24 Hours Museum from June 1 to July 2. The 2018 and 2022 winning cars will be driven by two winning drivers, Alex Wurz*6 and Kazuki Nakajima*7, in the Centenary Parade on June 10. Source: Toyota Gazoo racing

Recap of the 2023 season pre-24 hours of Le Mans

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is dominating the World Endurance Manufacturers’ Championship by scoring almost all points attributed so far if it was not for the pole (1 point) won by Ferrari at Sebring.

The 12 Hours of Sebring

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing dominated the opening round of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) to earn a one-two victory in the 1000 Miles of Sebring.

The GR010 HYBRID #7 of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López bounced back from a practice accident on Thursday to take victory after a hard-fought 239 laps.

📷 © Luc Warnotte. The GR010 HYBRID #7 of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López at **1000 Miles of Sebring** 2023.

After a tense race-long battle at the front, World Champions and 2022 Le Mans winners Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa completed a perfect result for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing by finishing second in the #8 GR010 HYBRID, just 2.168 secs behind.

📷 © Luc Warnotte. Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa in the #8 GR010 HYBRID at **1000 Miles of Sebring** 2023.

The 6 Hours of Portimao

After the technical incident forcing #7 to a long stop in the garage, Buemi, Hartley and Hirakawa won with Toyota GR010 HYBRID #8 even lapping the Ferrari #50 second overall with 40’ to go.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Portimão. Buemi, Hartley and Hirakawa with Toyota GR010 HYBRID #8

The 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps

Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Jose Maria Lopez with Toyota GR010 Hybrid #7 won the race after leading a total of 132 laps of the 148 covered.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Spa-Francorchamps. Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Jose Maria Lopez with Toyota GR010 Hybrid #7 won the race.

Mike Conway (Driver, car #7): “It was a crazy race but a great result for both cars. It was a tricky call at the beginning on the tires but we knew it probably wasn’t going to rain again. We just had to survive as best we could. I lost a lot of positions but when the track dried, we had the right tires and I picked off the guys ahead. The race went well but it was hard because as soon as we built a gap, it was eroded by a safety car. We made some good calls and Kamui and José did mega stints, pushing all the way to the end. Car #8 did well to finish second, so I am really happy to get such a result for the team.” Source: Toyota Gazoo Racing

Sister car #8 led three times for a total of 8 laps but could not resist to #7 despite an amazing race that saw them moving up the ranking from P36 to P1 at lap 55. The trio ended second.