Toyota Eyes A Solid 6th Win In Le Mans Race

SAUDI ARABIA : TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is gearing up for the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours race on June 15-16, aiming for their sixth triumph in this historic event. As the reigning World Champions with five victories in the last six editions, the team has rigorously prepared for the 92nd edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours. The drivers, engineers, and mechanics are set to capitalize on their cohesive team spirit and strive for victory at the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe.Competing with two cars, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will be part of a formidable Hypercar grid featuring 23 entries, including competitors from Alpine, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Isotta Fraschini, Lamborghini, Peugeot, and Porsche. This represents the largest top-class field at Le Mans in the 21st century.

The #7 GR010 HYBRID will be driven by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries, who have already secured a victory this season at Imola. The #8 GR010 HYBRID will be piloted by reigning World Champions Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa.

Five of the team’s six drivers have previously claimed victory at Le Mans. Sébastien Buemi has four wins, Brendon Hartley three, while Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Ryo Hirakawa each have one. Nyck de Vries, making his debut in the top class, has competed four times in LMP2. 

Toyota’s involvement at Le Mans dates back nearly 40 years to 1985. Over the years, the team has accumulated five victories, 17 podium finishes, and eight pole positions, completing over 16,000 racing laps—equivalent to more than five times the circumference of the Earth.

This year, Kazuki Nakajima, Vice Chairman of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe and one of only ten drivers to win Le Mans three consecutive times, will serve as Grand Marshal. This honor, bestowed by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, will see Nakajima lead the field on the formation lap on Saturday, June 15, in front of an expected 300,000 spectators.Since its inception in 1923, the Le Mans 24 Hours has been a showcase for cutting-edge automotive technologies and pioneering road-relevant innovations. Toyota, emphasizing its dedication to developing superior hybrid vehicles through endurance racing, has competed exclusively with a hybrid powertrain since its return in 2012. The 2024-spec GR010 HYBRID features a 200 kW (272 PS) hybrid motor on the front axle for four-wheel drive, paired with a 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbo engine running on 100% renewable biofuel.

In addition to utilizing the latest technology on the track, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing actively engages fans around the circuit. Last year, the team introduced the hydrogen engine GR H2 Racing Concept, hinting at a potential future for Le Mans. This year, hydrogen technology will be highlighted at the Hydrogen Village exhibition, complemented by displays at the Manufacturers Village focusing on the team’s motorsport projects and philosophy.

This comprehensive approach underscores TOYOTA GAZOO Racing's commitment to pushing the boundaries of automotive innovation while maintaining a strong connection with their fan base and the broader automotive community.