Toyota targeting ‘better start’ to ‘special’ season

It might have taken Toyota 33 years to win Le Mans, but from 2018 to 2022, the brand was unbeatable in the race. It has subsequently been a leading protagonist and podium-finisher in the most recent two editions, falling short of a sixth victory last June by barely 14 seconds.

That was one of five rostrum results for the Japanese carmaker in FIA WEC in 2024, including three triumphs – in Italy, Brazil and Bahrain – with the last of those successes enabling Toyota to snatch the Manufacturers’ crown from rival Porsche’s grasp by the margin of just two points.

In the Drivers’ standings, however, its run of five straight titles dating back to 2018/19 came to an end, as the #7 crew wound up third and the #8 trio fourth. With only three weeks until the Qatar 1812km gets the forthcoming campaign underway (28 February), they are determined to reassert their supremacy in both battles.

“It’s always very interesting to start a new season,” acknowledged four-time world champion Sébastien Buemi, whose stirring recovery drive in Bahrain back in November was key to securing Toyota the Manufacturers’ spoils. “We won the championship last year, and clearly, we want to build upon that.

“We’ve analysed all the mistakes we made and all the things we needed to work on, and hopefully we can prove from the beginning that we’re strong. It’s true that last year, Qatar wasn’t a good race for us, so we definitely want to start this season in a better way.”

“You’re always pumped up for a new season, to start afresh and for everything that might be,” echoed team-mate Mike Conway, who lifted the FIA WEC laurels in 2019/20. “We’ve seen more and more exciting racing over the past few years, and 2024 was decent for us in terms of results, but we also know we can still improve.

“Having missed Le Mans last year, I can’t wait to go back. Missing it cemented how much it means to compete in that race, and being Toyota’s 40^th anniversary this year, I think it will be pretty special.”