TOYOTA GAZOO Racing takes on the challenge of an ultra-competitive Hypercar grid in the 93rd edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours (14-15 June), which marks the 40th anniversary since Toyota’s first appearance in endurance racing’s most prestigious event.
With its proven GR010 HYBRID race cars, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 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% 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 in front of a sell-out crowd of over 320,000 fans and show off a unique combination of livery designs on its two GR010 HYBRID race cars, which highlights its iconic past and determined present. The #7 GR010 HYBRID 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 excite fans by connecting them with endurance racing’s rich history, strengthening their passion for motorsports. The #8 GR010 HYBRID – driven by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa – represents the present. Its matt black livery is built around a GR logo, capturing the team’s “Hate to lose” spirit and the “Prototype” concept of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars and continuous evolution.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s countdown to Le Mans kicked off with an in-house event on 7 May at the team’s base in Cologne, Germany. After the arrival of the hybrid powertrains – the beating hearts of the GR010 HYBRIDs – from Higashi-Fuji in Japan, employees in Cologne joined the race team to express their never-give-up spirit and determination to challenge as one team for victory in Le Mans. On-track preparations for the 93rd Le Mans 24 Hours will begin with the official test day on Sunday, the only opportunity for teams to drive on the Circuit de la Sarthe before official practice sessions begin on Wednesday 11 June.
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 Kamui in 2017.
Toyota advances its technology through participation at Le Mans, where components must withstand high temperatures and extreme vibrations over 24 hours of racing. Since returning to La Sarthe in 2012, Toyota has competed exclusively with hybrid powertrains, strengthening this technology in an arena which requires both high performance and exceptional efficiency. The 2025-specification GR010 HYBRID features a 200 kW (272PS) hybrid motor on the front axle to deliver four-wheel drive, alongside a 3.5litre V6 twin-turbo engine, which runs on 100% renewable biofuel.
As well as the unique GR010 HYBRID liveries, the 40th anniversary is also celebrated at a dedicated fan area in the Manufacturers Village. Meanwhile, there will be a glimpse of the future at the Hydrogen Village, which highlights ongoing hydrogen racing projects and showcases how motorsports contribute to the development of technologies with the potential to achieve a carbon neutral, sustainable future.
Fans can get up close to the GR010 HYBRIDs on Saturday 7 June, when the two race cars join the traditional scrutineering in Le Mans centre, while another GR010 HYBRID takes part in a procession through the city, starting at 3pm. Practice begins with two sessions on 11 June either side of qualifying, which determines the 15 competitors who will progress to Hyperpole. Those 15 cars will participate in a 20-minute Hyperpole 1 on Thursday at 9.05pm, to fight to be among the 10 fastest cars who will compete for the leading grid positions in the 15-minute Hyperpole 2, starting at 9.40pm. After Friday’s driver parade, the race begins on Saturday 14 June at 4pm.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing offers fans from around the world the opportunity to experience its Le Mans history and challenge in greater detail, including information about the team, its 40 years at La Sarthe and live onboard cameras from the two GR010 HYBRIDs.
Kamui Kobayashi (Team Principal and driver, car #7):
“This is the 40th anniversary of Toyota’s first Le Mans so we have brought back the iconic TS020 livery. When I saw it, I thought, wow, this looks really cool. I really love it, and I hope everyone enjoys it. 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. 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.”
Mike Conway (Driver, car #7):
“I can’t wait to get back on track at Le Mans, especially after missing the race last year due to injury. Luckily the time has passed really quickly, and I’m really excited for the week ahead. As always, Le Mans is the main focus of our year, and we develop and focus just for this race, so it is a huge week for our team. I am excited, the team is excited and it’s the 40th anniversary of Toyota’s first Le Mans so it is going to be something special.”
Nyck de Vries (Driver, car #7):
“When I think about Le Mans, I think about the history, how prestigious and important this race is. We remember who won Le Mans, and when you look back over the decades there are so many great names, so to become part of that is a dream. It’s a race which is extremely difficult; to win Le Mans is hard, that’s why it’s so special. Finishing second last year was a great result but after such a long race, with so many different emotions, it felt bitter-sweet, so we want to put that right this year.”
Sébastien Buemi (Driver, car #8):
“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.”
Brendon Hartley (Driver, car #8):
“We are all pumped up for Le Mans. It’s Toyota’s 40th anniversary year and we’re ready. We have been working almost since the day after last year’s Le Mans and we want to be fighting for victory, that’s the goal. We know there is a big task ahead of us and we need to execute each step perfectly to be up there at the front. But I know the team has worked so hard for this, and we’ve already shown in the first three races how we can extract the maximum performance from our package, so we’re ready to go.”
Ryo Hirakawa (Driver, car #8):
“Le Mans is finally here and it’s a very special year for us. Le Mans is always a great experience, and it’s always a pleasure to drive on this fantastic circuit in front of so many fans, but this year there is even more to enjoy because of the 40th anniversary for Toyota. We didn’t win last year despite the big fight, but we are ready to go for the win again. It’s going to be a tough battle, and it will not be easy, but we are ready. We have done lots of preparation and we are looking forward to this week. We hope to be fighting for the win.”
