TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s 2025 season commenced with a competitive Qatar 1812km race, concluding with the team’s cars finishing fifth and sixth. Strong teamwork amidst challenges enabled them to secure valuable points. The performance under pressure sets the stage for their upcoming races in the Championship as the team aims for improved results.
The Qatar 1812km race marked the beginning of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, showcasing strong performances with both cars finishing in the top six. This race is critical for the team, aiming for the manufacturers’ title and a return to Le Mans glory. Using their extensive experience, the drivers and support crew secured valuable points with strategic, effective teamwork.
In the race, the 8 GR010 HYBRID, driven by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa, rebounded from a difficult qualifying to secure a fifth-place finish. Meanwhile, Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries in the 7 GR010 HYBRID achieved sixth. Starting positions of seventh and seventeenth, they made significant progress to enter the top six during the race.
Despite initial challenges, including a high-speed spin by Mike before the pit stop, the team managed to avoid penalties and errors. Dramatic moments unfolded with two early safety car periods, but both drivers maintained focus under pressure. Late in the race, they managed positions well, with Sébastien and Brendon showcasing competitive skill that saw them rise to third and fourth place after relying on the misfortunes of competitors.
The final hours were marked by strategic pit stops and tire choices which influenced the lead positions. Kamui and Sébastien worked hard in the top six together, ultimately finishing fifth and sixth. This resulted in a total of 33 championship points for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, despite Ferrari’s strong performance securing the podium.
Team Principal and driver Kamui Kobayashi acknowledged Ferrari’s performance, commenting, “We did our best, but we couldn’t do more than that… we need to learn from this experience.” Mike Conway expressed mixed feelings, recognizing the decent points haul but noting room for improvement. Sébastien Buemi reflected positively on the team’s effort, emphasizing the lack of mistakes and penalties, while Brendon Hartley expressed satisfaction with the race execution.
Ryo Hirakawa praised the team’s flawless performance despite the challenging conditions, committing to improve in future races. The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will head to the next event, the 6 Hours of Imola, on April 20, to further their championship ambitions.
The Qatar 1812km race served as a solid start for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, with both cars finishing in the top six despite facing tough competition from Ferrari. Strategic driving, teamwork, and avoiding penalties were pivotal in securing valuable championship points. Moving forward, the team is focused on improving their performance for the next race in Imola to enhance their title challenge.
Original Source: newsroom.toyota.eu
