WEC 2025: What to expect from Toyota

Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) continues its mission to help make ever-better cars through motorsport. This year has already seen the launch of the World Rally-Raid Championship and World Rally Championship. Now, hot on these heels, is WEC 2025 – the globe-trotting FIA World World Endurance Championship, which starts on 28 February in Qatar.

What can we expect from TGR in this top-level endurance series? Who are the drivers and have there been any changes to the GR010 Hybrid prototype? Read on to find out.

Two crews of World Champion drivers will once again use their skill and close cooperation with engineers, mechanics and partners to propel the team forward, faithful to TGR’s goal of developing people and technology through motorsport.

For the second year in a row, car #7 will be piloted by Mike Conway, team principal Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries. Meanwhile, and for the fourth time together, Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa are assigned to car #8 and will be aiming for their third drivers’ title.

Commenting on the WEC 2025 ahead, team principal Kamui Kobayashi said: “We have won six consecutive World Championships as a manufacturer. So the challenge is of course to go for the seventh. Last year we missed out on the drivers’ title, so this year our target is to win both, but it will difficult. As well as a new manufacturer in Aston Martin, the returning manufacturers will come back stronger and with more experience, so I expect it will be more competitive than ever.

“We will have to challenge ourselves to get better in every area to stay on top. We need to get more out of our car set-up at each race, show even more team spirit and fight for every position. There is great support from the rest of the Toyota family and our partners. Every year I feel we are coming closer together and becoming stronger. We want to make an even stronger GR010 Hybrid this season and this will contribute to making ever-better cars through motorsports.”

Since its unveiling in 2021, the GR010 Hybrid prototype has been incrementally refined to enhance its performance and reliability. This has combined with team and driver know-how to maintain a record-breaking run of title successes.

For WEC 2025, the prototype’s proven package has undergone no significant changes. It will enter its fifth season as a tried and tested competitor. The only visible change is the addition of mandatory LED panels on the side pods to indicate position and pit stop timing. This is hoped to enhance the experience of fans at the track and viewing at home.

The WEC 2025 calendar consists of eight rounds across four continents, each of which is hosted by a different country. The following table provides the order of events.