Impressive Points Finish for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing demonstrated resilience and determination in the opening round of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), securing a hard-fought top-six finish with both cars at the dramatic Qatar 1812km race, held at the Lusail International Circuit. As the first of eight races in the season-long battle to defend their manufacturers’ World Championship title, reclaim the drivers’ title, and once again conquer the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, the team leveraged its extensive experience, teamwork, and strategic prowess to deliver a double points finish.
The #8 GR010 HYBRID, driven by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa, overcame challenges in qualifying to claim a fifth-place finish. Meanwhile, the #7 GR010 HYBRID, piloted by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries, secured sixth place, complementing their teammates’ efforts and ensuring a strong haul of points for the championship campaign.
Starting from seventh and 17th on the grid, Mike and Sébastien faced an uphill battle but made steady progress. By the late stages of the second hour, both cars had broken into the top six. Sébastien then handed driving duties to Brendon, while Kamui took over from Mike, who had earlier endured a high-speed spin before his pit stop. Despite the setback, the team remained focused on recovery and executing a strategic race plan.
A sequence of two closely-timed safety car periods injected further unpredictability into the race, leading to dramatic position changes throughout the field. However, both TOYOTA GAZOO Racing entries remained unscathed. Once racing resumed, Kamui executed a decisive move to pass the #5 Porsche, advancing to seventh, just behind Brendon, who held sixth. The team’s consistency, smart decision-making, and sheer determination started to pay off as the race progressed.
As night fell over Lusail, Brendon surged into third place, capitalizing on incidents affecting rival teams. Kamui followed suit, securing fourth, setting the stage for an internal battle for position. Near the conclusion of the fourth hour, Kamui overtook Brendon, taking third place just before their respective driver changes.
Nyck and Ryo continued the momentum in the second half of the race, maintaining a competitive presence in third and fourth places while gradually closing the gap to the leading cars. A safety car intervention in the sixth hour played into their hands, further aiding their progress. However, as rival teams recovered from earlier setbacks, their hold on podium positions came under threat. The next round of driver swaps saw Mike take over in fourth and Brendon slot into sixth.
With the top six competitors engaged in a fiercely contested battle, tire strategies played a crucial role in determining the ebb and flow of positions at each pit stop. The teams employed different approaches, leading to fluctuating momentum. As the race entered its final phase, Kamui and Sébastien returned to the cockpit for the concluding stints, determined to consolidate their positions in the top six.
The decisive moment came during the final round of pit stops when Sébastien managed to move ahead of Kamui into fifth place. From that point on, both drivers focused on maintaining a strong pace and steering clear of potential hazards as the race approached its climax. With 50 minutes remaining, they executed a controlled and disciplined drive, crossing the finish line in unison to secure fifth and sixth places respectively.
The 33 points earned in Qatar proved invaluable for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s championship aspirations, though they had to contend with Ferrari’s dominant performance, which saw the Italian marque clinch a 1-2-3 finish. Despite this, the team remains firmly in the title hunt, leaving Qatar in third place in the manufacturers’ standings.
With valuable lessons learned and an unwavering determination to strengthen their challenge, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing now turns its focus to the next round, the 6 Hours of Imola, scheduled for 20 April. The team aims to build on its solid start, refine its strategies, and mount a stronger challenge for victory in the fiercely competitive 2025 WEC season.
