How Toyota rendered its Le Mans agony a distant memory

By:

Gary Watkins

Apr 14, 2023, 1:58 PM

The Japanese giant needed convincing about sportscar racing. Then, once it was in, it suffered appalling luck at Le Mans. But now it’s a five-time 24 Hours winner and keen to continue its success against increased manufacturer competition in the Hypercar class

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The word ‘Toyota’ written large across the nose of the two cars wasn’t necessarily what it seemed. The presence of the Japanese manufacturer’s name on two Group C machines at Fuji nearly 40 years ago didn’t identify the design so much as offer a pointer to the future. It turned out to be a long and winding future, littered with false dawns and heartbreak. Eventually, though, the marque would find plentiful success at the greatest sportscar race of them all.

The Fuji 1000Km round of the World Endurance Championship in October 1983 was ground zero in the story of Toyota’s bid for glory at the Le Mans 24 Hours. No one could have predicted that it would take 35 years for the marque to bag the biggest prize in sportscar racing, or that its maiden victory in 2018 would be the first of five in a row.

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Gary Watkins

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Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.

Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.