WEC News: Toyota signs Nyck de Vries for 2024
Toyota will continue to race in the Hypercar category (LMH class) of the WEC, and has signed former AlphaTauri F1 driver Nyck de Vries to replace Jose Maria Lopez.
TGR will enter with the GR010 HYBRID, fitted with RACING HYBRID technology that has been advanced during WEC competition. The team will be based at TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe GmbH (TGR-E) in Cologne, Germany.
The driver lineup will include Nyck de Vries as the new driver of car #7 alongside Mike Conway. De Vries was a test and reserve driver for the TGR WEC team from 2020-2022. Having continued to gain experience in various categories,
José María López, who has competed in the WEC for many years with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing since 2017, will switch from the Hypercar class from the 2024 season to compete in the WEC LMGT3 class with Team Akkodis ASP.
This activity is TGR’s support for Team Akkodis ASP as part of customer motorsports to achieve sustainable motorsports. He will be responsible for team and car development and will support young and gentleman drivers. He will make use of the many years of experience he has gained in the Hypercar class and continue to aim to achieve sustainable motorsports as a member of the TGR family.
The reserve driver will be Ritomo Miyata, who won both the Japanese Super Formula Championship (SF) and SUPER GT500 class in the 2023 season.
| Team | Vehicle | No. | Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOYOTA GAZOO Racing | GR010 HYBRID | 7 | Mike Conway (UK) |
| Kamui Kobayashi (Japan) | |||
| Nyck de Vries (Netherland) | |||
| 8 | Sébastien Buemi (Switzerland) | ||
| Brendon Hartley (New Zealand) | |||
| Ryo Hirakawa (Japan) |
Mike Conway:
“I am looking forward to the new season, which should be even more intense and exciting. There are mixed emotions to be honest, because I have enjoyed six seasons working with José and we had lots of good times together, lots of wins. We became more than team-mates; we became true friends and that’s something I cherish. But I am happy to welcome Nyck to the #7 car next season and looking forward to driving with him. He’s a top driver and a team player so I am sure we will work well together. I can’t wait to get started.”
Nyck de Vries:
“I am super excited to be returning to endurance racing, especially with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. Endurance racing is something that I have always enjoyed and it is a discipline with incredible momentum at the moment. I was with the team in a different role for a few years but never got the chance to race, so it is great that the time has now arrived, and I want to thank the team for their continuous support and faith in me. I am very much looking forward to sharing car #7 with both Mike and Kamui. They are both very talented drivers who achieved a lot, and I am sure we will make a great team.”
Sébastien Buemi:
“I am extremely happy to come back to WEC again next season with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. We have been racing together since 2012, which is an incredibly long time for a driver to race with one team. It’s like a family to me and I feel privileged to be part of it. It’s great to again race alongside Ryo and Brendon. We won back-to-back championships together, plus a win and second place at Le Mans, so we have enjoyed some special moments. I hope we can continue to get stronger, and succeed, together. I can’t wait to go to Qatar and get the season started. Bring it on.”
Brendon Hartley:
“It’s a great feeling to be continuing with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing going into what should be a really tough, exciting season in Hypercar. I am really proud to be part of this team, and to drive alongside Sébastien and Ryo in the #8 car. We have grown so much together as a driver crew over the past years and enjoyed some incredible moments. Of course, we will give our all to win a hat-trick of World Championships together as well as the big one, Le Mans. With the new competitors coming to WEC next season, the task is harder than ever but we’ll give it our all.”
Ryo Hirakawa:
“I am excited to continue the challenge with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in WEC in 2023, and I’m delighted to continue with Sébastien and Brendon in the #8 car. This will be my third season in the team, and my third driving alongside them in the #8, and so far it has been a very special experience. We won the drivers’ championship two years in a row, and won Le Mans in 2022, and I am sure there is more to come. Next season will be even more challenging than ever but I am really looking forward to fighting to defend our title and aim for victory at Le Mans.”
