Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA
#7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 - Hybrid Hypercar, Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, Jose Maria Lopez
Prime
Analysis

Why Toyota's Le Mans victory was not as simple as it looked

Toyota scored its fourth Le Mans 24 Hours victory and a 1-2, with the #7 car of Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Jose Maria Lopez beating the #8. But although it looked straightforward from the outside, Toyota faced serious problem that had to be solved with some quick-thinking and ingenuity.

On the face of it, Toyota had an easy run to victory in the 89th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours with its new Le Mans Hypercar. The best of its GR010 Hybrids finished four laps up on its nearest rival in the form of Alpine's old LMP1 car. The reality was that over the latter hours of the race the Japanese manufacturer was fighting an issue that threatened not just its chances of victory, but to relegate its two cars perhaps as far as the lower reaches of the top 20. 

That Toyota was able to celebrate a fourth Le Mans victory in a row was the result of some outside-the-box thinking. And that Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Jose Maria Lopez were finally able to get a victory on the board in the big race after years of heartbreak was at least partially down to the fact that their GR010 was hit later than the sister car over the course of the double-points round of the FIA World Endurance Championship last weekend. 

Previous article Maldonado "devastated" to cause intra-United Le Mans clash
Next article AXR “would welcome” chance to race new Cadillac at Le Mans

More from Gary Watkins

Aston reserve Drugovich to make race return in European Le Mans Series

Aston reserve Drugovich to make race return in European Le Mans Series

ELMS European Le Mans
Aston reserve Drugovich to make race return in European Le Mans Series Aston reserve Drugovich to make race return in European Le Mans Series
Penske rules out chance of Indianapolis hosting WEC in 2025

Penske rules out chance of Indianapolis hosting WEC in 2025

WEC WEC
Losail
Penske rules out chance of Indianapolis hosting WEC in 2025 Penske rules out chance of Indianapolis hosting WEC in 2025
Lamborghini motorsport boss Sanna departs

Lamborghini motorsport boss Sanna departs

WEC WEC
Losail
Lamborghini motorsport boss Sanna departs Lamborghini motorsport boss Sanna departs
Cadillac and Ganassi to split after 2024 WEC and IMSA seasons

Cadillac and Ganassi to split after 2024 WEC and IMSA seasons

WEC WEC
Cadillac and Ganassi to split after 2024 WEC and IMSA seasons Cadillac and Ganassi to split after 2024 WEC and IMSA seasons
Newgarden won't race Penske Porsche at Le Mans

Newgarden won't race Penske Porsche at Le Mans

LM24 Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
Newgarden won't race Penske Porsche at Le Mans Newgarden won't race Penske Porsche at Le Mans
Cadillac has no plans for customer Hypercars in WEC or IMSA

Cadillac has no plans for customer Hypercars in WEC or IMSA

WEC WEC
Losail
Cadillac has no plans for customer Hypercars in WEC or IMSA Cadillac has no plans for customer Hypercars in WEC or IMSA
WEC grid airfreighted back from Qatar to Europe to avoid Imola delay

WEC grid airfreighted back from Qatar to Europe to avoid Imola delay

WEC WEC
Losail
WEC grid airfreighted back from Qatar to Europe to avoid Imola delay WEC grid airfreighted back from Qatar to Europe to avoid Imola delay
How Porsche made the perfect start in WEC despite late drama in Qatar

How Porsche made the perfect start in WEC despite late drama in Qatar

Prime
Prime
WEC WEC
Losail
How Porsche made the perfect start in WEC despite late drama in Qatar How Porsche made the perfect start in WEC despite late drama in Qatar

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA