24h Le Mans
In 2018, Toyota finally clinched the overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that had eluded the Japanese marque for the last two decades. Here are some of the highlights of this inspiring story of perseverance.
The win this year - thanks in part to Toyota's status as the world leader in hybrid technology - was the culmination of its 30+ year history at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
1975 - Toyota's first participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine powering a Sigma chassis driven by Hiroshi Fushida and Harukuni Takahashi (retirement).
1985 - The first time the Japanese manufacturer entered a factory team with two prototypes. One was forced to retire, the other crossed the finish line in 12th place driven by Kaoru Hoshino, Masanori Sekiya and Satoru Nakajima. In 1995, Sekiya became the first Japanese driver to win the 24 Hours, and Nakajima is the father of none other than Kazuki Nakajima, one of this year's winners.
1990 - Toyota first broke into the overall top 10 with sixth place for Geoff Lees, Hitoshi Ogawa and Masanori Sekiya.
1992 - Along with British driver Kenny Acheson and Frenchman Pierre-Henri Raphanel, Sekiya claimed Toyota's first podium finish at the 24 Hours (second place). Five more would follow prior to 2018: second in 1994, 1999, 2013 and 2016, third in 2014.
1999 - Second behind the winning BMW V12 LMR, Ukyo Katayama, Toshio Suzuki and Keiichi Tsuchiya achieved what remains the best result at the 24 Hours for a 100% Japanese driver line-up.
2012 - After spending the 2000s in Formula 1 under its own banner, then as an engine supplier to Williams and Jordan Midland, Toyota made its return to Le Mans.
2014 - At the wheel of the TS040 HYBRID, Kazuki Nakajima became the first Japanese pole-sitter at the 24 Hours.
2017 - Thanks to that pole position, Kamui Kobayashi became the fastest driver in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 3:14.791 at an average of 251.8 km/h.
2018 - After nearly winning in 1998, 1999, 2014, 2016 and 2017, Toyota finally won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, thanks to Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Fernando Alonso. After Mike Hawthorn, Phil Hill, Jochen Rindt and Graham Hill, Alonso became the fifth Formula 1 World Champion to win the 24 Hours, but the first to do so as a rookie.
PHOTOS (Copyright - Christian Vignon/ACO Archives): Four snapshots from Toyota's history at Le Mans. At the top, the victory won by Fernando Alonso, Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki in 2018. Below from left to right, Toyota's debut at the 24 Hours in 1985, the TS010 second in 1992 and pole position clinched by Kazuki Nakajima (at center with helmet flanked by Alex Wurz and Stéphane Sarrazin) in 2014.
