TOYOTA GAZOO Racing claims victory at 8 Hours of Bahrain

• Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa secure first-place at FIA WEC finale 
• Toyota takes sixth-consecutive Manufacturers’ Championship title  

Doha, Qatar, 10 November 2024: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) has secured top podium position at 8 Hours of Bahrain, the final race of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season. Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa raced to victory in the No.8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid Electric Hypercar thanks to their incredible team effort and a dominant driving performance. TGR’s relentless determination has also helped Toyota achieve its sixth successive manufacturers’ World Championship title.

As the 2024 season comes to an end, this remarkable achievement sets the stage for an exciting 2025 season. Al Abdulghani Motors, the official distributor of Toyota and Lexus in Qatar, takes immense pride in this victory. In line with Toyota’s vision of continuous innovation and advancements in hybrid technology, Al Abdulghani Motors is committed to championing the growth of Qatar’s local motorsports scene. The company eagerly anticipates the opening round of the Qatar 1812 KM FIA World Endurance Championship 2025 —set to take place in Qatar from February 26-28, 2025.

Nobuyuki Takemura, Chief Representative of Middle East & Central Asia Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation, commented: “Buemi, Hartley, and Hirakawa, thank you for ending this season on such an incredible high note with your first-place victory in the Toyota GR010 Hybrid Electric Hypercar! Your dedication, masterful performance, and team spirit is what made this year such a success for TGR as well as for Toyota by achieving the manufacturers’ World Championship title. We look forward to returning to racetracks around the world next season to showcase our ongoing advancements in electrified vehicle technology and continue our pursuit of ‘ever-better cars’, as well as strengthening our commitment to providing sustainable mobility for all, with no one left behind. Thank you to every member of TGR for making this year yet another success, and to our fans and supporters worldwide for cheering us on every step of the way.”

The chequered flag in Bahrain concluded a 2024 season which featured 72 hours of racing, at eight rounds on four continents over almost 10 months. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s season record stands at five podiums, including three wins, and two pole positions, earning 190 World Championship points.

The race kicked off with Buemi leading confidently from pole, setting a strong pace for the team. He showed impressive resolve after sustaining an early rear collision, quickly recovering several positions before Hartley took over late in the second hour. Hartley and Hirakawa then demonstrated determination in managing tyre wear, working diligently to keep the No.8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid Electric Hypercar within reach of the front runners.

Two safety car periods in the second half of the race closed the gaps throughout the Hypercar field and set up a thrilling final stage. When racing resumed, Buemi was in 10th, just 15 seconds behind the leader. He mounted an extraordinary charge, overtaking multiple competitors to claim second place following his final pit stop.

With only half an hour left in the season, Buemi completed an astonishing comeback to seize the lead. He extended his advantage, crossing the finish line comfortably to win by 27.539 seconds, marking the No.8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid Electric Hypercar’s second win of the season and the team’s 10th in Bahrain.

Over the years, Toyota has been participating in many different forms of motorsports, including Formula One, the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the Nürburgring 24 ‎Hours endurance race. Toyota’s participation in these events was overseen by separate entities within the company until April 2015, when Toyota established TGR, ‎to consolidate all of its motorsport’s activities under one in-house brand. Representing ‎Toyota’s belief that ‘the roads build the people, and the people build the cars,’ TGR highlights the role of motorsports as a fundamental pillar of Toyota’s commitment to ‎making ‘ever-better’ cars. Harnessing years of experience gained under the extreme conditions of various motorsports events, TGR aims to forge new technologies and solutions that bring the freedom, adventure, and joy of driving to everyone.

Race Notes:

• No. 8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid Electric Hypercar (Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa)
• Position: 1st
• No. of Laps: 235
• Best lap: 1:50.492
• Elapsed time: 8:01:25.839