Toyota Gazoo Racing’s new look is ready for new challenge
TOYOTA Gazoo Racing is poised for the upcoming FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season, ready to defend its titles against an expanded grid of hypercar competition when the season kicks off in Qatar this month.
Having clinched a fifth consecutive world title double in the face of stiff competition from Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot and Porsche last season, Toyota Gazoo Racing faces a field of 19 hypercars this year, including newcomers Alpine, BMW, Isotta Fraschini and Lamborghini.
An experienced and proven lineup will spearhead the campaign. In the No. 7 GR010 Hybrid, Mike Conway, marking a decade with the team since his debut, joins Team Principal Kamui Kobayashi and newcomer Nyck de Vries, a former Toyota Gazoo Racing test and reserve driver.
Meanwhile, reigning World Champions Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa will aim for a third consecutive crown in the No. 8 GR010 Hybrid. Buemi and Hartley stand as the joint most successful drivers in WEC history with four titles each, while Hirakawa boasts championship wins in each of his two hypercar seasons.
The GR010 Hybrid Hypercar, victorious in 16 of its 19 races since its first appearance in 2021, debuts a striking updated identity for 2024. Sporting an all-new matte black livery, the car symbolizes Toyota Gazoo Racing’s commitment to continuous evolution and refining hybrid technologies through endurance racing.
The car has undergone optimizations for enhanced reliability, with detailed modifications to selected internal components. Notable technical changes include adjustments to the front headlights based on driver feedback, aimed at reducing glare for improved visibility in wet conditions and at night. Also, modifications allowing refueling on the left side of the car have been implemented to optimize pit stop efficiency at anti-clockwise circuits like Austin and Brazil.
Toyota Gazoo Racing continues to benefit from the technical contributions of long-term partners. Denso’s involvement extends to the GR010 Hybrid’s front motor, along with Aisin, while also providing high-performance spark plugs. RAYS delivers lightweight magnesium alloy wheels, and Mobil 1 serves as the preferred lubricant.
In alignment with Toyota Gazoo Racing’s commitment to a carbon-neutral future for motorsport, the GR010 Hybrid utilizes 100-percent renewable biofuel, reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by at least 65 percent.
The team’s base in Cologne, Germany, has recently taken steps to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 1,400 metric tons per year through the implementation of a new central cooling facility, marking another significant stride toward carbon neutrality.
The latest iteration of the GR010 Hybrid made its debut during WEC’s official Prologue preseason test at Lusail International Circuit in Qatar last February 24 to 25. The circuit, first experienced by Toyota Gazoo Racing during a preseason test session in late November, also hosted the inaugural Qatar 1812 KM race last March 2.
Following Qatar, the European leg of the championship includes races at Imola in Italy (April 21) and Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium (May 11), leading up to the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours on June 15 to 16. The championship will then traverse across the Atlantic for events in Sao Paulo, Brazil (July 14) and Austin, Texas (September 1), culminating with the team’s home race at Fuji Speedway (September 15), and the traditional season finale in Bahrain on November 2.