TOYOTA GAZOO Racing achieved a notable top-six finish with both cars at the Qatar 1812 km race, the opening round of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) held at the Lusail International Circuit on March 1, 2025. The team, striving to retain its manufacturers’ World Championship title, had its drivers and engineers pulling together to navigate through the challenges presented by the race.
The race marked the first of eight events this season, and TOYOTA faced initial setbacks during qualifications, with the #8 GR010 HYBRID starting from seventh and the #7 GR010 HYBRID from 17th. Despite this, Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa managed to recover and finished fifth, with Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries following closely behind at sixth.
Michael Conway expressed his surprise at the overall results, stating, "To come away from this event with fifth and sixth is maybe more than we had expected to be honest, so we’ll take it.” Meanwhile, Nyck de Vries reflected positively on the day, indicating, "I think overall it is a positive result for the team considering everything.” The drivers acknowledged the importance of teamwork and strategy throughout the race, stating they faced no penalties and executed the race plan efficiently.
Meanwhile, Ferrari made headlines with its remarkable performance, achieving a historic one-two-three finish. Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen collectively drove the #50 Ferrari 499P to victory, showcasing extraordinary skill and strategy. Fuoco, praising the team's efforts, said, "First of all, I want to thank the entire team for the work done over the winter, which allowed us to arrive here with great potential to exploit.”
The second place was secured by Emanuele Olivieri, Ye-Kubica-Hanson from the #83 car of AF Corse, and the team took home significant points for the manufacturers’ championship. Molina echoed sentiments about the race, stating, “The most important thing is to chase the world title for Ferrari,” highlighting the team’s ambition as the season progresses.
The race day was marked by strategic driving and tire management as the teams navigated through two safety car periods and changing conditions on the track. Throughout the race, team strategies made significant differences, with Ferrari’s management of tire wear proving pivotal to their success. Alessandro Pier Guidi of the #51 Ferrari praised the team, noting, “We maximized the points we could earn as a team for the world manufacturers’ championship.”
Ferdinando Cannizzo, Head of Endurance Race Cars at Ferrari, emphasized the importance of this successful start to the season, stating, "This is just the beginning of what will be a long and complex season, and we must approach every single round with this same attitude.”
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing's strong finish places them third in the manufacturers’ standings, setting the stage for their upcoming challenge at the 6 Hours of Imola on April 20. Kamui Kobayashi, the team principal and driver, acknowledged the challenges they faced, stating, "We tried our best, but we couldn’t do more thanthat,” affirming the need for improvement as they work to regain their competitive edge.
Brendon Hartley, reflecting on the race, declared, "We had a really well executed race and I had a lot of fun out there.” He expressed confidence for the next race, hoping for even greater success. The camaraderie and support within the team and competing strategies proved beneficial, creating excitement and anticipation for the remainder of the season.
Ryo Hirakawa, part of the #8 team, stated, “I am very proud of the team. We did a perfect race with no mistakes, no penalties, good pit stops.” Such teamwork under pressure highlights the dedication and ambition within both TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and Ferrari as they gear up for future races.
Overall, the Qatar 1812 km race served as a thrilling start to the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship, clarifying the competitive dynamics between TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and Ferrari as the season progresses. Both teams will take valuable lessons and momentum from this race as they prepare to face fluctuative challenges on the track moving forward.