Toyota Gazoo Racing to Field Three Cars at Le Mans

Team announce plans for 2017 World Endurance Championship

Toyota Gazoo Racing are demonstrating their commitment to the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship, announcing that three TS050 Hybrid cars will be entered for the Le Mans 24 Hours and the race at Spa-Francorchamps.

The team are also expanding their driver line-up with José Maria López recruited to partner WEC race winners Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi in the N07 TS050 Hybrid for the forthcoming season.

Argentinian López, 33, raced in GP2 before moving to the World Touring Car Championship, where he has been champion diver for the past three years. He said: “This is a dream come true for me and I can’t wait to get to the first race. Mike and Kamui are both great team-mates; I will learn plenty from them I am sure.

“Driving an LMP1 car is very different compared to WTCC cars but I am enjoying this challenge. The power and grip of the TS050 Hybrid are incredible and Toyota’s hybrid technology is impressive. I am looking forward to my first experience of the WEC and particularly Le Mans, which is a very special race.”

The 2014 WEC World Champion drivers Anthony Davidson and Sébastien Buemi will again team up with Kazuki Nakajima for a full season in the the No8 TS050 Hybrid.

Stéphane Sarrazin, who has been a member of the Toyota WEC team since the start of the project in 2012, will continue to play a significant role and will bring the benefit of his experience to the third car as its lead driver. The team are still assessing their options for his two team-mates; a decision is expected soon. This car will sport the No9.

Toyota Gazoo Racing will present their 2017 team and the updated Toyota TS050 Hybrid at Monza on 31 March, prior to an official two-day test at the Italian circuit.

 
Driver Profiles
Sébastien Buemi
Born                            31 October 1988, Aigle, Switzerland
Le Mans debut            2012
Le Mans starts            5
Le Mans best result     2nd (2013)
WEC starts                  34
WEC wins                   5
WEC best season       1st (2014) 

Anthony Davidson
Born                            18 April 1979, Hemel Hempstead, Great Britain
Le Mans debut            2003
Le Mans starts            9
Le Mans best result     2nd (2013)
WEC starts                  33
WEC wins                   5
WEC best season       1st (2014)

Kazuki Nakajima
Born                            11 January 1985, Okazaki, Japan
Le Mans debut            2012
Le Mans starts            5
Le Mans best result     4th (2013)
WEC starts                  28
WEC wins                   2
WEC best season       7th (2015) 

Mike Conway
Born                            19 August 1983, Sevenoaks, Great Britain
Le Mans debut            2013
Le Mans starts            3
Le Mans best result     2nd (2016)
WEC starts                  28
WEC wins                   2
WEC best season       3rd (2016) 

Kamui Kobayashi
Born                            13 September 1986, Hyogo, Japan
Le Mans debut            2013
Le Mans starts            2
Le Mans best result     2nd (2016)
WEC starts                  17
WEC wins                   1
WEC best season       3rd (2016)

José María López
Born                            26 April 1983, Río Tercero, Argentina
Le Mans debut            2017
Le Mans starts            0
Le Mans best result     n/a
WEC starts                  0
WEC wins                   0
WEC best season       n/a

Stéphane Sarrazin
Born                            2 November 1975, Alès, France
Le Mans debut            2001
Le Mans starts            15
Le Mans best result     2nd (2007)
WEC starts                  41
WEC wins                   3
WEC best season       3rd (2013 & 2016)