Jose Maria Lopez headed up a one-two finish for Toyota in the opening session of the FIA World Endurance Championship's pre-season 'Prologue' test in Barcelona on Tuesday, leading defending world champion Sebastien Buemi.
How fitting that this, an FIA World Endurance Championship season that was deemed to be oh-so-predictable, would offer a late sting in the tail. And where else but at Le Mans, the cruellest of all motor races?
Toyota has confirmed that a sensor failure caused it to change the wrong tyre on the #7 car in the closing stages of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, forcing Jose Maria Lopez into an additional pit stop that cost him, Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi victory.
Toyota claimed its second victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in dramatic circumstances as two late punctures for its #7 car handed victory to #8 drivers Fernando Alonso, Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima.
Kazuki Nakajima has moved into the lead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with one hour remaining after the race-leading #7 Toyota suffered punctures on back-to-back laps, wiping away its two-minute lead.
Toyota continued to control proceedings in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as dawn broke through the 15th hour, with Jose Maria Lopez leading the way in the #7 car ahead of Fernando Alonso.
Toyota has confirmed it will continue with its existing team orders policy for the final title-deciding races of the FIA World Endurance Championship season, allowing its cars to race freely until the final stint of the race.
Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi led Toyota Gazoo Racing to a front row lock-out for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps after scoring a one-two finish in Friday's FIA World Endurance Championship qualifying session.
Toyota Gazoo Racing extended its lead in the FIA World Endurance Championship by taking a one-two finish in Sunday's 6 Hours of Shanghai as wet weather dominated proceedings at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Toyota Gazoo Racing swept to a dominant one-two finish in Sunday’s 6 Hours of Fuji as Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez claimed their first FIA World Endurance Championship victory as a trio.
Fernando Alonso, Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima will start Sunday’s FIA World Endurance Championship round at Fuji from pole position after the sister Toyota crew’s qualifying time was deleted by the stewards following the session.
Jose Maria Lopez and Kamui Kobayashi led Toyota to pole position for its home FIA World Endurance Championship round after narrowly beating teammates Fernando Alonso and Sebastien Buemi in qualifying for the 6 Hours of Fuji on Saturday.
Jose Maria Lopez will once again race for the Dragon Formula E squad during the 2018/19 campaign. Lopez, a triple World Touring Car champion, scored 14 points as he finished 17th in the drivers' standings last season in what was his second year with the American squad.
Jose Maria Lopez led Toyota's charge in the second FIA World Endurance Championship practice session at Silverstone on Friday, heading up another one-two finish for the Japanese manufacturer.
Fernando Alonso leads the 24 Hours of Le Mans by more than 90 seconds with three hours remaining after pulling clear of Toyota teammate Jose Maria Lopez, as the Japanese manufacturer closes in on its maiden victory at the Circuit de la Sarthe.
Maybe just by writing this headline, fate has been tempted. Maybe we’re set for the same heartache that has burdened Toyota in recent years. Or maybe, this time around, Toyota will finally take its elusive maiden victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Jose Maria Lopez will return to Formula E at next weekend's Marrakesh E-Prix after being named as Neel Jani's replacement at Dragon Racing for the remainder of the season.