24h Le Mans
Toyota is all set to race in the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans (11-15 June 2025) with two GR010 Hybrid Hypercars, one of which will sport a red livery reminiscent of a legendary model: the spectacular, edgy Toyota GT-One (TS020), entered in 1998 and 1999. The car became an icon that symbolises still today the Japanese firm’s obsession with winning Le Mans. We look back at a shooting star that etched an indelible mark in the memory of fans everywhere.
In late 1996, Toyota launched a programme focused solely on winning the 24 Hours of Mans. The GT-One was designed by Toyota Team Europe in Cologne under the guidance of André de Cortanze, the French engineer behind the Peugeot 905. With just one road-legal version produced to meet homologation requirements, she was in fact a prototype disguised as a GT.
Her sculpted body concealed a 3.6-litre twin-turbo V8 engine developing 600-650 horsepower. Matched with a six-speed sequential gearbox, the GT-One could reach over 340 kph on the Mulsanne Straight. Her radical, aggressive appearance immediately elevated the car to cult status.
Three GT-Ones were entered in the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans. They stood up to the Mercedes CLK-LM and Porsche 911 GT1 in qualifying but the race itself was a different matter. The #28 was soon forced to retire, followed by the #29 sister car. Only the #27 driven by Ukyo Katayama, Toshio Suzuki and Keiichi Tsuchiya saw the chequered flag, finishing in ninth place, 25 laps behind the winning Porsche 911 GT1.
Despite the disappointment, the speed and potential of the GT-One made a strong impression. Its futuristic outline and red livery turned heads. History was in motion.
A rule change saw the GT1 class give way to LMGTP closed-cockpit prototypes. Toyota adapted the GT-One which officially became a prototype. Three cars were again entered.
After the #1 and #2 cars retired, it was left once again to the trio of Katayama, Suzuki and Tsuchiya to fight for victory against a BMW V12 LMR fielded by BMW Motorsport. Sadly, as the race entered its final stages, a high-speed blowout and a long crawl back to the pits deflated all hopes. Toyota finished in second place, one lap in arrears of the BMW. The GT-One gave her all, but the 24 Hours is an unforgiving beast.
Despite the defeat, the GT-One’s spectacular looks, powerful performances and tragic history ensured the car became a legend. Thanks to the lasting impression made, the GT-One became a star of video games such as Gran Turismo.
At the 2023 Le Mans Classic, Emmanuel Collard took the GT-One once again around the Circuit de la Sarthe. The onboard footage of this rare moment brings memories of this outstanding machine flooding back:
In 2025, Toyota Gazoo Racing has opted to revive the legacy of the GT-One by cloaking one of the two GR010 Hybrids in the emblematic livery and pay tribute to this poignant chapter in the Japanese manufacturer’s history at Le Mans, while reasserting its continued quest for victory.
The GT-One never won Le Mans, but she won the heart of many fans. And sometimes, cherished longstanding memories are worth just as much as any trophy.
