Toyota confirm unchanged WEC driver line-up with a host of ex-F1 stars

What is Toyota Gazoo Racing's WEC line-up for 2025?

The team first confirmed their plans for the 2025 season. They hope to defend the title again and achieve a sixth victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours with a two-car team in the WEC’s top Hypercar category. They have an unchanged driver line-up of proven winners and world champions.

Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries will participate in the #7 GR010 HYBRID for a second successive season together, having won one race in 2024. Kamui and Nyck finished third in the drivers’ standings this year. Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa have won two world titles and one Le Mans crown together during their three seasons in the #8 GR010 HYBRID, and they will attempt to add to that in 2025.

Kobayashi, team principal and driver of car #7 is confident the team can continue to challenge at the top. "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 cooperation 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," the Japanese driver said.

"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," he concluded.

Conway and De Vries also expressed their delight in staying together as a team. The Dutchman stressed how they are "determined to keep fighting for wins and championships".

Buemi, Hartley and Hirakawa echoed those words. "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," Buemi said.

"I am very happy to be continuing with Toyota Gazoo Racing and I am grateful to the team, and Toyota, for the opportunity. On car #8, the 2024 season was not ideal and, despite entering the season as champions and with 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 together in 2025," Hartley added.

"Of course, we aim to win Le Mans and the championship, although it’s going to be another challenging year with another new manufacturer joining Hypercar. 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 are going to be strong, and I am looking forward to being part of it," Hirakawa concluded the drivers thoughts.

The 2025 WEC season will start in Qatar at the end of February. It will feature eight events, spread through until November. Le Mans 24 Hours will take place on 14-15th June.