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TOYOTA CELEBRATES 40 YEARS AT LE MANS WITH AWESOME THROWBACK LIVERIES TO BLEND THE PAST & PRESENT

Published: 2025-05-14 14:56:28 Last Updated: 2025-05-14 15:03:15

For the 93rd edition of the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is arriving with a rolling tribute to four decades of triumph, heartbreak, and relentless evolution at the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe. To mark 40 years since Toyota first took on the world’s toughest endurance race, the team’s pair of GR010 HYBRIDs will take to the grid with liveries that don’t just look fast - they tell a story. The #7 GR010 HYBRID - piloted by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries - is dressed in a fire-breathing homage to the TS020, aka the GT-One, Toyota’s unforgettable 1998–1999 Le Mans challenger. That car was pure poster material, with curves sculpted by aerodynamics and a livery that became iconic through both real-world glory and virtual stardom via Gran Turismo. Now, that look returns - reimagined in 2025-spec. A bold red base with sharp white streaks slashing over the bodywork gives the modern Hypercar a throwback vibe with a no-nonsense modern twist. It’s a signal that Toyota’s not just there to race, they’re there to write the next chapter in their Le Mans legacy. While the #7 looks back, the #8 GR010 HYBRID - driven by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa - screams modern performance. Draped in matte black, it carries a futuristic aggression, anchored by the bold GR logo and a visual identity built around two core beliefs: “Speed” and “Hate to lose.” This car isn’t paying tribute - it’s making a statement.

The design captures the relentless drive behind Toyota’s prototype program: constantly evolving, always pushing, never settling. Just like the engineering beneath that sculpted carbon skin. Both cars also wear a bespoke 40th Anniversary badge - a subtle nod to four decades of blood, sweat, and gears. Toyota’s Le Mans journey started in 1985 with the 85C - a plucky prototype running a road-derived engine. Since then, the Japanese giant has entered 61 cars across 26 races at La Sarthe, racking up five outright wins, 18 podiums, eight pole positions, and a catalogue of unforgettable moments. From a podium in 1992, to the iconic TS020 of 1999, to the hybrid-powered domination with the TS050 from 2018-2020, and back-to-back victories in the Hypercar era with the GR010 in 2021 and 2022 - every phase of Toyota’s Le Mans story has added fuel to the fire. They’ve raced Supras, prototypes, hybrids and hypercars. They’ve returned from heartbreaks, survived regulation shakeups, and always come back swinging. And this year, with a foot in the past and eyes on the prize, they’re chasing win number six. But Toyota’s not just looking back - they’re also looking way forward. At Le Mans 2025, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will also spotlight its hydrogen racing technology, reinforcing motorsport’s vital role in developing sustainable, high-performance futures. For Toyota, endurance isn’t just about race pace - it’s about racing towards a cleaner tomorrow. The 24-hour battle begins on 14 June, buckle up - this one’s going to be special. Well, it has to be after all of this effort. We’ll be watching live online, but just to see how Toyota fares, of course. We love all the action and even the incorporated drinking games that you can do. Take a shot of tequila every time the word “pass” is used by the commentators...

Take a look at the YouTube video that shows off the GR010 HYBRID, the car that Toyota has campaigned at LeMans since 2021, and it remains in. the same spec for the full 2025 race season as the rules are only up for changes in 2026: Presenting the 2024 GR010 HYBRID | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe

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Article Tags: News SXdrv Livery Racecar Racing GR010 HYBRID TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Le Mans Toyota