Toyota confirms 2025 FIA WEC driver line-up
Reigning FIA World Endurance Championship Manufacturers’ title-winner Toyota Gazoo Racing is betting on consistency in 2025, after confirming an unchanged driver line-up of established stars in its two GR010 Hybrid Hypercars.
Courtesy of a stunning comeback – and a heroic performance from Sébastien Buemi in particular – Toyota secured an unprecedented and somewhat unexpected seventh WEC Manufacturers’ crown in Bahrain earlier this month, snatching the honours from Porsche in a race in which the momentum swung one way and then the other.
Heading into its 13th consecutive season in the series, Toyota Gazoo Racing has retained the services of the Swiss ace – a stalwart of the team from the outset and four times an FIA World Endurance Champion in his own right – as well as stablemates Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa in the #8 entry, with Mike Conway, Team Principal Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries similarly continuing to pilot the sister #7 car. The latter pair finished third in the Drivers’ classification in 2024.
The 2025 WEC campaign will again feature eight races, beginning in Qatar on 28 February and concluding on 8 November in Bahrain, with the 93rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans set to take place on 14-15 June. Toyota is a five-time winner at La Sarthe, and will be bidding to add a sixth victory in the race to its impressive list of accomplishments next summer.
Kamui Kobayashi said:
“We have a top driver line-up in both cars, and I am happy to be part of it again in 2025. The team spirit and co-operation among all the drivers, and the team in general, grows with every race and every season. Thanks to the great support of everyone at Toyota, as well as our partners, we have enjoyed some good results this year, but we are determined to achieve more.
“Competing in the Hypercar category in WEC is a big challenge and we are fighting against very strong competition, but as a team, we continuously push ourselves to perform even better at every event. I expect this to continue next season, with a consistent line-up of drivers who understand how to work together – as a driver crew, as team members and as part of the Toyota family – to succeed in endurance racing. I know the whole team is excited by the challenge in 2025.”
Mike Conway said:
“I am obviously excited to be continuing in the #7 car with Toyota Gazoo Racing. It has been a pleasure to be with this team for the last ten years, and I really feel part of the family. It has been an interesting year for us, but I feel as a car crew, we gel well and have good fun together, with a strong team spirit. We inspire each other and push each other to always perform to our best level, which is really enjoyable. I can’t wait for 2025 to get started!”
Nyck de Vries said:
“I am delighted to stay in car #7 with Mike and Kamui. We have enjoyed a good first season together. Of course, we had ups-and-downs but generally, it has been a great experience. I am looking forward to being part of this team again in 2025 – it is a true pleasure and honour. Toyota Gazoo Racing has a lot of history and a great track record in WEC, and we have a lot of ambitions in front of us. We are determined to keep fighting for wins and championships.”
Sébastien Buemi said:
“This team is a big part of my family. I grew up around Toyota because my family has had a Toyota dealership for over 50 years, and I remember having my photo taken next to the GT-One at the Geneva Motor Show when I was a child. It is amazing to be part of the team since the first season in 2012, having achieved a lot of good results in that time. Thank you to everyone at Toyota Gazoo Racing for giving me the opportunity to go for another win at Le Mans and another world championship.”
Brendon Hartley said:
“I am very happy to be continuing with Toyota Gazoo Racing, and I am grateful to the team and Toyota for the opportunity. In car #8, 2024 wasn’t ideal. Despite entering the season as champions and with high hopes for Le Mans, things didn’t always go our way, but we are highly motivated and I truly believe in the people around me. I am so excited to challenge for another championship and Le Mans win together in 2025.”
Ryō Hirakawa said:
“I am happy to be part of Toyota Gazoo Racing in WEC for our fourth year together. Of course, we are aiming to win Le Mans and the championship. It’s going to be another challenging season with another new manufacturer joining the Hypercar field, but we know we have the potential and team spirit to achieve this. Thanks to the support of Toyota and our partners, I am confident we will be strong, and I’m looking forward to it.”
