Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe confirmed that Mike Conway will not participate in this weekend’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) round at Austin after sustaining a shoulder injury during a training incident. To maintain its competitive edge, the team has enlisted Jose Maria Lopez as a substitute driver for the #7 Toyota GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercar. Lopez will join Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries for the Lone Star Le Mans 6-hour race on 7 September.
Background on Conway’s Injury and Lopez’s Role
Conway, a Briton, suffered the collarbone injury last week, adding to a series of recent physical setbacks including injuries to his shoulder and ribs sustained during a cycling accident at the 2024 Le Mans 24 Hours. Toyota has not disclosed further medical details or whether Conway will be fit in time for the team’s next home race in Fuji on 28 September. Meanwhile, Lopez—who tested the GR010 at Paul Ricard earlier this year—was on standby during Le Mans and moves over from Toyota’s sister brand Lexus, representing the Auto Sport Promotion LMGT3 squad within the WEC.
Team Response and Driver Comments on the Change
Kamui Kobayashi, who manages the Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe WEC squad as team principal, expressed regret that Conway cannot race but affirmed confidence in Lopez’s ability to fill the seat.
“As well as wishing Mike a quick recovery, I would like to say a big thanks to AKKODIS ASP for their support in allowing Jose to step in,”
Kobayashi said.
Lopez, a full-time Toyota WEC driver from 2017 to 2023, shared his sentiments about the unexpected opportunity.
“I’m sad for Mike, who is a great friend, and I know he is so disappointed that he cannot race in Austin,”
Lopez remarked.
“It’s an unexpected opportunity for me to work with everyone in the team again, and I am sure it will be just like old times very quickly.”
Strategic Considerations Behind the Driver Lineup
Given the anticipated high temperatures and the physical challenges posed by the anti-clockwise 3.43-mile Circuit of the Americas, Toyota chose to field three drivers instead of two in the #7 car for enhanced endurance and performance. This contrasts with the #8 GR010, where Sebastien Buemi was permitted to skip the Sao Paolo WEC round last month to compete in the Berlin Formula E race, with no substitution made alongside teammates Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa.
Similarly, Porsche is scheduled to return with a three-driver lineup for the North American WEC round to tackle comparable demands, underscoring the importance of managing driver fatigue and maintaining consistency.
Implications for the World Endurance Championship Season
Lopez’s return to the Toyota WEC lineup highlights the team’s adaptability in the face of unforeseen setbacks, ensuring that the #7 entry remains competitive during a crucial phase of the championship. Conway’s recovery progress will be closely monitored ahead of the Fuji race, where Toyota aims to perform strongly on home ground. The decision to bring in a seasoned driver like Lopez also reflects the depth of Toyota’s driver pool and the strategic importance of maintaining a three-driver rotation under physically taxing race conditions.
