When the exciting 2024 season comes to a head on Saturday, November 2, at the 8 Hours of Bahrain, Toyota Gazoo Racing is prepared for a championship matchup in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

With fierce competition from Ferrari and Porsche, the team enters the eighth and final race of the season determined to hold onto its manufacturers’ world championship. Toyota GAZOO Racing has won two of the seven races thus far, and a victory in Bahrain would secure the championship for the sixth consecutive year.

Nyck de Vries and Kamui Kobayashi still have a remote chance of winning the drivers’ championship, but they will need to win the race with their #7 GR010 Hybrid teammate Mike Conway and hope the #6 Porsche crew doesn’t collect any points. Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa, the World Champions of the outgoing drivers and the winners of Bahrain last year, will compete for their second victory of the season in their #8 GR010 Hybrid in Saturday’s race, which starts during the day and concludes after nightfall.

Having won the last seven WEC races at the Bahrain International Circuit, including six straight one-two finishes, Toyota GAZOO Racing has an impressive record there. It has secured five front-row lock-outs and six pole positions in its 12 races in the island kingdom, winning nine of them overall.

With 18 Hypercars competing for the drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles, including title rivals Ferrari and Porsche, the battle is more difficult than ever this year. Alpine, BMW, Cadillac, and Peugeot are anticipated to participate in an intriguing race for honors after demonstrating speed at Fuji Speedway.

Having hosted the last race in eight of the 11 seasons since WEC’s reintroduction in 2012, the 5.412-kilometer Bahrain International Circuit is the customary location for WEC’s season finale. Its 15-turn design, which combines fast and slow turns, is known for having high grip levels and being abrasive, making tire maintenance particularly difficult.

Two 90-minute practice sessions, one in daylight and one under lights, start on Thursday and end on Friday in preparation for the Saturday race. The qualifying and hyperpole sessions, which begin at 4.40 p.m. local time (2.40 p.m. CET) on Friday and the 8 Hours of Bahrain at 2 p.m. (midday CET) on Saturday, will determine the grid.

As part of the team’s dedication to providing young, up-and-coming drivers with opportunity, Esteban Masson will take the wheel for the first time on Sunday during the traditional rookie test. Driving the #87 Lexus RC F LMGT3 that the AKKODIS ASP Team entered in WEC’s LMGT3 category, the 20-year-old Frenchman has made an impression this season. Reshad de Gerus, a 21-year-old European Le Mans Series racer and the WEC-nominated rookie, will also test a GR010 HYBRID if Toyota GAZOO Racing wins the manufacturers’ title.

Kamui Kobayashi (car #7, driver and team principal):

“A thrilling and difficult season is coming to a conclusion. Together, we have experienced both wonderful and challenging times, such as the most recent race at Fuji Speedway. Although the competition has been extremely difficult throughout the season, we still have control over the outcome of the manufacturers’ world championship going into the final race because of everyone’s tremendous effort. Since we are aware that winning will earn us the title, that is our goal, and everyone will do everything in their power to reach it. We are prepared for the challenge, and we need the ideal weekend.

Mike Conway (automotive, vehicle #7):

I like to race in Bahrain.” It’s an enjoyable circuit to drive and has provided me with many wonderful memories; I won both of my driver’s titles and my first race with Toyota in 2014. Even though we anticipate another close battle since Porsche and Ferrari will be formidable once more, as a team we also have a successful record in Bahrain, and we hope to maintain that this year. We’ve prepared well and are excited for it, but we’ll need to perform at the highest level possible.

Car #7’s driver, Nyck de Vries:

“I’m excited about Bahrain since it’s the last race of my maiden season as a Toyota GAZOO Racing race driver and we still have the manufacturers’ world championship to contend for. The circuit is familiar to me from previous series, and I tested a TS050 Hybrid there back in 2019 during the rookie test, which is essentially how my journey with the team began. As a Toyota race driver, it’s good to be returning there. Although Fuji was difficult for us, we are prepared to go again because of another excellent team effort.

Vehicle #8’s driver, Sébastien Buemi:

“I always look forward to visiting Bahrain. It seems almost like a home race because some of my family members live there and it’s a fantastic circuit with lovely amenities and pleasant weather. Because it’s quick and flowing before the hairpin, where there’s an opportunity to pass, the circuit is enjoyable, especially the high-speed portion starting at turn five. Because the race goes into the night, the temperature fluctuates a lot, making it unique. Finding the appropriate set becomes more difficult as a result; therefore, we will focus on that in practice.

Car #8’s driver, Brendon Hartley:

“The final race in an exciting season is Bahrain, where we compete for the Manufacturers’ World Championship, one of the team’s main goals each year. We’ve done well in Bahrain in the past, and the track always seemed to fit our vehicle, so hopefully that bodes well for the upcoming week. It is more crucial than ever to run a clean race and perfect our strategy because it is a longer race than usual. We are eager to get started, and I know the entire crew has put in a lot of preparation.

Ryo Hirakawa (car #8’s driver):

“Winning the race and, consequently, the World Championship, is our goal in Bahrain, but it won’t be simple. We anticipate another tough race because our rivals were formidable at Fuji, but we are fighting as hard as we can and we won’t give up. For our car to operate at its best during the weekend, we must be totally focused. We will continue to strive for a successful season finale and a result to cheer for all of our partners and fans if we accomplish it.

Concerning Toyota

Through all of its business activities, Toyota aims to be a good corporate citizen, interacting with and gaining the trust of its stakeholders and helping to build a prosperous society.

Our business principles guide our attitude, serve as the foundation for our activities, and represent ideals that motivate action.