Toyota will mark the 40th anniversary of its maiden appearance in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a brace of unique, one-off livery designs on its two GR010 HYBRIDs next month, in celebration of the manufacturer’s rich history in endurance racing.
Inspired by the past and the present, one colour scheme pays homage to an iconic race car while the other captures TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s fighting spirit, with both prototypes preparing to challenge for glory in the 93rd edition of Le Mans on 14-15 June.
The #7 GR010 HYBRID crewed by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries will sport a reimagined red-and-white livery unmistakably reminiscent of the aesthetically beguiling TS020 – also known as the GT-One – that raced at La Sarthe in 1998 and 1999, claiming pole position and finishing as runner-up in the twice-round-the-clock contest in its second and final outing.
While the #7 entry will reflect the brand’s illustrious Le Mans heritage, the matt black look of the sister #8 car – piloted by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa – represents the here and now. Both GR010 HYBRIDs will carry a special logo in recognition of the milestone, as Toyota sets its sights on a sixth victory at La Sarthe this year.
Over the course of the past four decades, the Japanese car maker has experienced joy, heartbreak and drama in the legendary French event. Since officially debuting in 1985 with the 85C – powered by a road car-derived engine – 61 Toyotas have competed at La Sarthe, earning five wins, 18 rostrum finishes and eight pole positions. No fewer than 62 drivers from 16 different nations have played their part in that enduring story.
The podium was conquered for the first time in 1992, while having initially fielded prototypes, new regulations prompted the marque to enter the popular Supra model in 1995-96.
For its next bid in the late 1990s, Toyota turned its focus to chasing overall honours with the TS020. A subsequent decade-long absence from Le Mans was ended in 2012 with the advent of the hybrid-powered TS030, while a breakthrough victory in the race followed in 2018 – the first of three consecutive wins for the TS050 HYBRID.
That form has continued into the current Hypercar era, with the GR010 HYBRID prevailing in both 2021 and 2022 and now targeting a third triumph in 2025...
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