24h Le Mans
Change is afoot at Thiriet by TDS Racing. Ryo Hirakawa will miss the next round of the European Le Mans Series. He will be replaced by Toyota Gazoo Racing’s official World Endurance Championship LM P1 driver, Mike Conway.
A participant in the Toyota Young Drivers Program, Ryo Hirokawa will skip the fourth round of the ELMS at Le Castellet in the south of France to take part in the Super GT championship Suzuka 1000km with KeePer TOM’S.
Mike Conway will be standing in. The Briton is familiar with LM P2 machinery, having driven the Oreca 03 for G-Drive Racing in the World Endurance Championship, pocketing four wins with Roman Rusinov and John Martin in 2013. He also spent four years in IndyCar.
Conway will team up with Pierre Thiriet and Mathias Beche for the round at Circuit Paul Ricard. Currently just seven points behind G-Drive Racing in the championship standings, Thiriet by TDS Racing will be looking to Conway to help consolidate their position.
Mike Conway: “I’m looking forward to doing Le Castellet with Thiriet by TDS Racing. I really enjoyed driving in LM P2. They’ve made huge improvements to the Oreca 05. It’s impressive. The car will be new to me, and I’ll be part of a different team, although I already know Mathias Beche from the World Endurance Championship. Thiriet by TDS Racing have won the last two rounds of the European Le Mans Series. They stand second and I’ll do my best to help them. Switching classes doesn’t bother me. Actually, I really like it. Driving an LM P2 is much the same as a P1.”
Ryo Hirakawa will be back at the wheel of the #46 Oreca 05 - Nissan for the last two legs: Spa and Estoril.
Mike Conway was interviewed at Nürburgring
