Toyota Gazoo Racing has announced an unchanged driver lineup for the 2025 World Endurance Championship, with Brendon Hartley rejoining the team for a sixth season.
Hartley will once again partner with Ryo Hirakawa and Sebastien Buemi in the #8 GR010 Hybrid. The trio have won two World Endurance Championship drivers’ titles and one 24 Hours of Le Mans together.
Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries will share the #7 sister car for the second consecutive season, with Toyota gunning for a sixth consecutive manufacturers’ championhip.
Hartley, Buemi and Hirakawa won the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo and the 8 Hours of Bahrain in 2024 but were let down by inconsistent results as they sought to defend their 2023 title. They finished no higher than fifth in any of the other six races on their way to fourth in the championship.
Hartley admits it was a difficult year, but he is determined to win his fifth drivers’ title and fourth 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“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.”
Kobayashi, who doubles as Team Principal as well as a driver of the #7, adds, “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.
“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.”
The 2025 WEC season again features eight races, starting in Qatar on 28 February and concluding on 8 November in Bahrain. The 93rd Le Mans 24 Hours takes place on 14-15 June while Toyota’s home race, the 6 Hours of Fuji, is on 28 September.
2025 World Endurance Championship
Feb 28 | Qatar 1812km |
Apr 20 | 6 Hours of Imola |
May 10 | 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps |
Jun 14-15 | 24 Hours of Le Mans |
Jul 13 | 6 Hours of Sao Paulo (Interlagos) |
Sep 7 | Lone Star Le Mans (COTA) |
Sep 28 | 6 Hours of Fuji |
Nov 8 | 8 Hours of Bahrain |