The announcement of the return of the Toyota Le Mans 24 Hours 2012 awakens memories of the 1998 race, and thunderous debut of one of the most fabulous cars seen in La Sarthe during the 90s: the Toyota GT-One.

Designed by André de Cortanze, father of the winning Peugeot 905 in 1992 and 1993. The car of Brundle-Collard-Helary held the lead in the first three hours of racing, then by the sister car of Boutsen-Kelleners-Lees until nightfall. But both were delayed by technical problems, leaving the lead to the Porsche 911 GT1. At daybreak, an incident and then a cooling problem in the German camp allowed Boutsen-Kelleners-Lees to return the front. But the GT-One was let down by its transmission with only and hour and a half to the finish. Allan McNish, Laurent Aiello and Stephane Ortelli gave Porsche a sixteenth (and last to date) Le Mans victory. Brundle, Collard and Helary had dropped out at 4am due to an exit from the circuit, and the third Toyota GT-One, driven by the Japanese Katayama-Suzuki-Tsuchiya, finished ninth.

The Japanese team starting from pole position in 1999, Brundle-Collard-Sospiri withdraw a puncture, while a crash ended the race for Boutsen-Kelleners-McNish. Katayama, Suzuki and Tsuchiya saved the honour of the marque again, clinching the fastest lap and second place, only one lap from the winning BMW of Dalmas-Martini-Winkelhock. Toyota then decided to go into Formula 1. Like the Peugeot 905 and the Mazda 767B,  two other striking cars of the 90s, the GT-One has earned its place in the pantheon of 24 hours. So much so that it would inspire the Bentley EXP Speed ​​8, victorious in La Sarthe in 2003.