A new YouTube series is giving fans a fascinating glimpse into the adrenaline-fuelled world of the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship.

Le Mans Series

FIA WEC

Toyota Gazoo Racing is standing by its 2024 line-ups for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season, including the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans (11-15 June).

Toyota made history once again this year with a sixth World Endurance Manufacturers&rsquo; Championship title on the bounce. To build on this success in 2025, the Japanese carmaker had decided that continuity is the best policy by sticking with the same driver trios.

Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries will therefore share the wheel of the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid for the second consecutive season. The trio won the 6 Hours of Imola. Kobayashi and de Vries finished third in the Hypercar World Endurance Drivers&rsquo; Championship. 
Meanwhile, S&eacute;bastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa will pursue their collaboration in the #8 sister car Over the last three seasons, this partnership has produced two world titles and a 24 Hours of Le Mans victory.

Kamui Kobayashi, Team Principal and Driver of car #7, explains:&nbsp;&ldquo;We have a top driver line-up in both cars, and I am happy to be part of it again in 2025. The team spirit and cooperation among all the drivers, and the team in general, grows with every race and every season. Thanks to the great support of everyone at Toyota, as well as our partners, we have enjoyed some good results this year, but we are determined to achieve more. Competing in the Hypercar category in WEC is a big challenge and we are fighting against very strong competition, but as a team we continuously push ourselves to perform even better at every event. I expect this to continue next season, with a consistent line-up of drivers who understand how to work together &ndash; as a driver crew, as team members and as part of the Toyota family &ndash; to succeed in endurance racing. I know the whole team is excited by the challenge in 2025.&rdquo;

S&eacute;bastien Buemi, Driver of car #8 and stalwart of the Toyota Gazoo Racing endurance team, adds:&nbsp;&ldquo;This team is a big part of my family. I grew up around Toyota because my family has had a Toyota dealership for over 50 years, and I remember having my photo taken next to the GT-One at the Geneva Motor Show when I was a child. It is amazing to be part of the team since the first season in 2012, having achieved a lot of good results in that time. Thank you to everyone at TOYOTA GAZOO Racing for giving me the opportunity to go for another win at Le Mans and the World Championship.&rdquo;

Toyota Gazoo Racing sticks to same line-ups for 2025 campaign

The Alpine A424 wrapped up its first year in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) with a series of very promising showings. 2024 served as a learning curve for Alpine Endurance Team, but the team finished a commendable fourth in the Hypercar manufacturers’ world championship, behind Toyota, Porsche and Ferrari. The French brand has thus emerged as the best of the newcomers in this ultra-competitive racing class.

<h2>An encouraging start despite the challenges</h2>

The Alpine&nbsp;A424 suffered its fair share of mechanical setbacks, including at the 24 Hours of Le Mans where neither car finished the race. However, the team bounced back to secure a series of noteworthy results later in the season, including fifth place at Lone Star Le Mans, third at the 6 Hours of Fuji, and a strong fourth place at the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain. The Alpine&nbsp;A424 thus achieved one podium finish, three top-five finishes, nine top-ten finishes, one fastest race lap and four Hyperpole appearances during its maiden campaign in 2024. A performance that testifies to the car&rsquo;s potential and the team&rsquo;s commitment.

<h2>Constant progress</h2>

Bruno Famin, VP Alpine Motorsports, is optimistic about what lies ahead. For him one of the highlights of the 2024 season was the team work demonstrated by the drivers and the rest of the crew: &ldquo;The individualities have all contributed to the project and have always worked towards the same goal: to help the team improve and develop the potential of the A424, all with a strong team spirit. The season was free of serious incidents, which is invaluable during a learning year. As the season went on, depending on the circumstances, we also saw them distinguish themselves on track when necessary. We saw that again today, and we can be proud of the work done by our seven drivers and the whole team.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Looking ahead to 2025</h2>

Charles Milesi, one of the drivers who contributed to the #36 Alpine&nbsp;A424&rsquo;s achievements, hailed the progress made over the year: &ldquo;Overall, it was a positive season.&nbsp;We made a lot of progress throughout the year. We know, however, that we still have a lot of work to do to achieve our future goals, and we will focus on our next tests to get closer to the front in 2025.&rdquo;

A studious winter lies ahead for the team headed by Philippe Sinault, as they aim to move up the pecking order to affirm their status as one of the leading Hypercar manufacturers and secure a podium finish in 2025.

.

Alpine Endurance Team firmly focused on 2025

As 40 skippers cast off for the start of the 10th Vendée Globe round-the-world, non-stop, single-handed yacht race today (Sunday 10 November 2024), we ask the question: could a driver race solo in the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

It might seem crazy today, but it did almost happen at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in bygone times. The race&rsquo;s history books recount&nbsp;<a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/24-hours-stories-louis-rosier-23-out-of-24-hours-at-the-wheel-55804" target="_blank">the tale of Louis Rosier</a>. In 1950, in the Frenchman&rsquo;s third appearance in the race, he accomplished the heroic and unlikely feat of winning the race almost single-handed, having spent more than 23 hours at the wheel. Rosier allowed his son, Jean-Louis, the pleasure of completing a few laps before hopping back into the driver&rsquo;s seat to set what is still a record in terms of endurance. This achievement is worthy of the solo sailors who are setting out to brave the oceans without assistance and will remain forever etched in the annals of the French endurance classic.

<h2>Driving times, an element of race strategy</h2>

Today, such a performance would be simply impossible. The 24 Hours of Le Mans regulations stipulate that all teams must rotate three drivers through the car during the race. The rules are devised to ensure that teams&rsquo; safety and performance are not compromised during such an intense, demanding race. The time spent at the wheel is also restricted to four hours in any six-hour period, and all drivers must have a mandatory break between each stint.

Moreover, in the LMP2 and LMGT3 classes, Bronze and Silver drivers must spend at least six hours in total at the wheel during the race. The team faces a penalty and potential disqualification should a driver fail to complete the minimum driving time. Similarly, the sanction may result in disqualification should a driver exceed the maximum driving time.

These rules are strictly monitored by the Stewards to prevent overtiredness and safeguard the competitors. Unlike the Vend&eacute;e Globe skippers, the drivers in the 24 Hours of Le Mans must therefore share the burden and each one plays a decisive role in the quest for victory.

Rosier&rsquo;s achievement remains a unique feat in the history of motor racing and bears witness to an era where limits were tested differently to today. In 2024, the essence of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is teamwork, coordination and collective strategy, whereas the Vend&eacute;e Globe skippers can only call on their inner strength and motivation when the going gets tough.

Can a driver race “single-handed” at the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

Motorsport history is peppered with mythical cars that have never taken the start in a race The Porsche LMP 2000, originally destined to dominate the LMP900 category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, existed in secret for nearly 25 years. This prototype was never given the opportunity to demonstrate its potential in competition. Now, thanks to the work of Porsche's Heritage and Museum team, this "ghost of Weissach" is seeing the light of day once again.

<h2>Like a Unicorn</h2>

The Porsche LMP 2000 was developed as&nbsp;a&nbsp;top contender at the&nbsp;24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans. Only two well-known drivers, Bob Wollek&nbsp;and three-time winner&nbsp;Allan McNish, were given a&nbsp;chance to take the wheel of the&nbsp;LMP 2000 on the testing track in&nbsp;Weissach, covering barely&nbsp;80 km. The project was abruptly scrapped and the car garaged, a well-kept secret at&nbsp;Porsche.

The&nbsp;LMP 2000 recently hit the track again thanks to experts at Porsche Heritage Experience run&nbsp;by Alexander E. Klein:&nbsp;&quot;For those of us at&nbsp;Porsche Heritage and Museum, it was a very special&nbsp;moment without a doubt.&nbsp;Exactly&nbsp;25 years after the LMP 2000 project&#39;s first laps, we found ourselves back in Weissach Flacht to run the car once again. This&nbsp;car is like a unicorn in the history of racing. No one ever saw it in competition, and that is why we were thrilled to show it off.&quot;

<h2>Unique Sound and Unforgettable Experience</h2>

After taking the wheel for the occasion, Allan McNish: &quot;It&#39;s like I was 25 again. It was fantastic to hear this&nbsp;V10 again. Going down the back straight, pedal to the metal, and listening to the engine roar above 7,000 rpm. It is a magnificent sound.&quot;&nbsp;The Scottish driver&#39;s enthusiasm underscores the raw power and heart of this car never seen in-race.

For&nbsp;McNish, the testing session was as much&nbsp;about driving as it was about going back in time: &quot;It was like a class reunion, seeing the engineers and mechanics with whom I used to work. What people don&#39;t realize is through these projects, you become sort of a family and it felt a bit as&nbsp;if I had come home.&quot;

Current Porsche CEO Thomas Laudenbach remembers that period as a turning point:&nbsp;&quot;I was a young automotive engineer when I joined the project. We were a tiny team. We all worked on everything, from mechanical&nbsp;development to application. That was great for me because it was the first time I worked on a motorsport project and particularly one that started with a blank slate. The learning curve was incredible. I was just starting out and it was a privilege to work for&nbsp;Porsche who won Le Mans in 1998.&quot;

Bringing the Porsche LMP 2000 backwill offer 24 Hours fans a rare&nbsp;opportunity to discover a hidden gem in&nbsp;Porsche&#39;s history. This&nbsp;resurrection makes us wish we could have witnessed the&nbsp;prototype take&nbsp;on the Audi R8, the Cadillac Northstar LMP, the&nbsp;Panoz LMP01, the&nbsp;Courage C60, the&nbsp;Dallara SP1 and the&nbsp;Dome S101, all the LMP 2000&#39;s rivals of the LMP900 category era.

Check out the Porsche LMP 2000 prototype that has never done the 24 Hours of Le Mans

The return of the Porsche LMP 2000

Découvrez la Porsche LMP 2000, le prototype qui n’a jamais couru aux 24 Heures du Mans

24 episodes (four after each of the six races) will be released throughout the season. The series – “Full Web Access” – will take viewers inside the official driver briefing sessions and to parts of the paddock that are usually out of bounds for spectators.

The first episode shows some of the key moments of the 1000 Miles of Sebring, including discussions between the teams and their engineers in the Corvette Racing, Toyota Gazoo Racing and Richard Mille Racing garages. It also trains the spotlight on some of the race’s big names, such as Sébastien Ogier, Jacky Ickx, Ryan Briscoe and Jim Glickenhaus. 
From the craziness at the renowned Turn 10 spectator area to José María López’s spin off track, witness the passion and the drama of one of endurance racing’s most iconic tracks.

Every Friday, a new episode will be released on the <a href="https://consent.youtube.com/m?continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fuser%2FFIAWEC%3Fcbrd%3D1&amp;gl=FR&amp;m=0&amp;pc=yt&amp;uxe=eomn&amp;hl=fr&amp;src=1">FIA WEC YouTube channel</a>. Watch Episode 1 below.

24H LE MANS

Discover what really goes on in the FIA WEC with the series “WEC Full Access”

Related News

Toyota Gazoo Racing sticks to same line-ups for 2025 campaign

Alpine Endurance Team firmly focused on 2025

Can a driver race “single-handed” at the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

Check out the Porsche LMP 2000 prototype that has never done the 24 Hours of Le Mans

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