MOTORSPORT – TOYOTA Gazoo Racing (TGR) takes on the challenge of an ultra-competitive Hypercar grid in the 93rd edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours, taking place next Saturday and Sunday in France.
The event marks the 40th anniversary since Toyota’s first appearance in endurance racing’s most prestigious occasion. With its proven GR010 Hybrid race cars, TGR aims to defeat a 21-strong Hypercar field – featuring a total of eight manufacturers – to win for the sixth time at La Sarthe and strengthen its bid for the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) titles.
Le Mans offers double points, which can accelerate the team’s world Championship challenge. It currently sits second in the manufacturers’ standings after maintaining a 100 per cent points-scoring run in the season’s opening three rounds, despite difficult circumstances.
On the 40th anniversary of Toyota’s first participation at Le Mans, the team will fight for victory and show off a unique combination of livery designs on its two GR010 cars, which highlights its iconic past and determined present.
The #7 contender of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries will carry a red and white livery inspired by the TS020 which participated in 1998. This one-off design is intended to connect fans with endurance racing’s rich history.
The #8 Hybrid – driven by Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa – represents the present. Its matt black livery is built around a GR logo.
On-track preparations for the 93rd Le Mans 24 Hours will begin with the official test day today, the only opportunity for teams to drive on the Circuit de la Sarthe before official practice sessions begin on Wednesday next week.
This year’s race will take Toyota to 27 appearances since it made its Le Mans debut in 1985. Prior to this year’s race, a total of 61 Toyota cars have competed at La Sarthe, in 26 editions of the Le Mans 24 Hours, earning five wins, 18 podiums, and eight pole positions, whilst also setting the fastest-ever lap of the Circuit de la Sarthe, achieved by Kobayashi in 2017.
“This 40th anniversary is important because we are competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours not only to challenge for the win, but to develop technology,” said Kobayashi.
“Our first Le Mans were with a road car combustion engine, then dedicated race engines, now the hybrid system and in the future, there will be hydrogen. So, we are here to develop technology and, this year, we are definitely aiming for the win.”
Added Buemi: “Le Mans is clearly the most important race of the season for us and it’s always a pleasure to go there. There is a mix of special emotions with this race. There’s a bit of stress as well as the excitement and determination to do well.
“It will be 24 very intense hours when the race starts on Saturday, but I have seen the team working very hard for many months to give us the best possible chance. Hopefully we will be able to get back on the top step of the podium.”
The Le Mans 24 Hours is round four of the 2025 WEC calendar.
The season is set to come to a close with the 8 Hours of Bahrain on November 8.
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