A fifth World Endurance Championship title and Le Mans success are recognised as key goals for New Zealander Brendon Hartley this year ahead of this weekend’s season-opening Qatar 1812km.
A record 19-strong Hypercar field will take to the track this season, with last year’s competitors Toyota, Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot and Porsche joined by Alpine, BMW, Isotta Fraschini and Lamborghini for the entire campaign or part thereof.
Hartley rejoins Sebastien Buemi and Ryo Hirakwa in the #8 Toyota Gazoo Racing GR010 HYBRID, having won the last two championships.
“I am so excited to start this season,” he said. “We expect our competitors will be tough and we expect some good fights.
“Qualifying will be more important than ever, and every point, every overtake, every position will be significant. We need to make no mistakes, work closely as a team, and put all the pieces together to reach our full potential.
“As World Champions, there is a target on our back again and a bit more pressure, but this is an amazing team with a lot of experience, so we feel ready for the challenge.”
Hirakawa adds, “This is my third season in WEC with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, and I really feel part of this team, alongside Sébastien and Brendon in the #8 car. We all work very well together; I enjoy being part of it.
“Winning the World Championship for two years in a row is very special, so of course, defending the title is a target this year, but my biggest goal is winning Le Mans. It will be more challenging than ever with so many Hypercars, and this is very exciting for everyone. I can’t wait to start racing in Qatar.”
While the #8 lineup remains unchanged, the #7 entry has former Formula 1 driver Nyck De Vries joining Team Principal Kamui Kobayashi and Mike Conway in place of Jose Maria Lopez.
“The competition in Hypercar will be harder than ever this season, and we are looking forward to it,” said Kobayashi. “It will be tougher to succeed, but that makes it even more special, and everyone is really motivated.
“Last year, we won the World Championship, but we missed out at Le Mans, which is our biggest goal for this year.
“In endurance racing, success is not only about performance; you need teamwork with all mechanics, engineers and drivers working perfectly. Against such tough competition, we need to push even harder, and we need a top job from everyone; that’s the challenge this season.
“Our experience is an advantage, and we have prepared intensively for this season, so I think we are ready. Now, starting in Qatar, the most important factor is that all team members, including the drivers, work together as one, with big commitment and our best performance.”
Qualifying for the Qatar 1812km begins at 2.00 am on Saturday, with the race, which is expected to last up to 10 hours, going green at 9.00 pm that evening.
