World Endurance Championship two years ago, Toyota had a difficult 2015 season, with only two podium finishes. For 2016, Technical Director Pascal Vasselon decided to move forward with a clean slate for its new TS050 HYBRID: new engine, new hybrid system, new aerodynamics...even a driver change:  following Alex Wurz's departure to retire, Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi joined Sébastien Buemi, Mike Conway, Anthony Davidson, Kazuki Nakajima and Stéphane Sarrazin.

On May 7th, the WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps showed the performance level had definitely improved in the Japanese camp as the longtime leader in the rehearsal before the 24 Hours. A win at Le Mans would resonate competitively and commercially. Competitively because Toyota has been chasing this victory for a very long time. It would bring additional value in terms of image and marketing to the world's number one manufacturer of road hybrid cars. A prestigious feat for Toyota who made the switch to hybrid technology in road cars well before its rivals Audi and Porsche.

Two-time winner at the 24 Hours (1996 and 2009) and the first driver recruited by Toyota for its endurance program launched in 2012, Alex Wurz will serve as the Grand Marshal at the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans. Will he be a bit of a lucky charm for his former teammates, all of whom are going after their first win? The answer on Sunday, June 19th at 3:00 p.m. under the checkered flag!

Sébastien Buemi-Anthony Davidson-Kazuki Nakajima (No. 5 Toyota TS050 HYBRID) - The top speed of this trio is well-established. For Buemi and Davidson, World Endurance Driver Champions in 2014, a win at the 24 Hours is more than ever goal number one. First driver to have scored the pole at Le Mans, in 2014, Kazuki Nakajima has the potential to be the third citizen of his country to win at Le Mans, after Masanori Sekiya (1995) and Seiji Ara (2004). And he could become a national hero as the first Japanese winner at the 24 Hours at the wheel of a Japanese car.

Mike Conway-Kamui Kobayashi-Stéphane Sarrazin (No. 6 Toyota TS050 HYBRID) - "Dean" of Toyota drivers in terms of participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (14 starts and four podium finishes), Stéphane Sarrazin would probably exchange his three consecutive pole positions (an exploit only Jacky Ickx had achieved before him) for a victory! It would be very well-deserved for him as a major player in endurance over the last decade. For now, Mike Conway has won only one victory for Toyota (at the 2014 6 Hours of Bahreïn). It would be hard to do better than reuniting with the top step on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans! Such a win would also be special to Kamui Kobayashi: at his first 24 Hours at the wheel of an LM P1 prototype, he will compete with Kazuki Nakajima for the honour of becoming the first Japanese driver to win at the 24 Hours at the wheel of a Japanese car.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo: STAVELOT (LIEGE PROVINCE, BELGIUM), SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS CIRCUIT, WEC 6 HOURS OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, FRIDAY MAY 6 2016, FREE PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING. Will the new TS050 HYBRID be the weapon that brings Toyota its first long-awaited victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans?