-
Home
-
Latest Headlines
-
- TV Shows
- TV Schedule
- NASCAR
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
-
Latest Headlines: Moto-Racing
-
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Davidson Lands Toyota Drive
Peugeot refugee confirmed in one of two Toyota TS030 Hybrids for 24 Hours of Le Mans, joining fellow new recruits Sebastien Buemi and Hiroaki Ishiura...
Anthony Davidson has landed a prime ride with Toyota for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. (Photo: LAT)
One of Peugeot's top star drivers has found a new home for 2012, as Toyota Racing confirmed Friday that Anthony Davidson will pilot one of the team's new TS030 Hybrids in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Davidson, who helped take Peugeot to the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup championship last year with three wins and multiple pole positions, will share the Japanese manufacturers' second entry with fellow former Formula One driver Sebastien Buemi and Hiroaki Ishiura.
"Competing at the Le Mans 24 Hours is always hugely exciting, but to be joining a team like Toyota Racing and competing with a hybrid powertrain makes this particularly special," Davidson said.
"I’ve heard a lot about the TS030 Hybrid and the technology behind it, and I'm looking forward to experiencing hybrid power for the first time in my career. I know this is a learning year for the team but I believe Toyota Racing has huge potential, and I hope we can prove that at Le Mans.”
It's unclear if the 32-year-old Brit will have additional drives beyond the twice-around-the-clock French classic, as Toyota has so-far confirmed only a single-car, season-long FIA World Endurance Championship entry, which will be driven by Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kaz Nakajima.
Toyota stepped up its WEC commitment following Peugeot's shock withdrawal last month, which left the FIA and ACO, organizers of the global sports car championship, with only Audi as a registered full-season manufacturer entrant in LMP1 until Toyota's late entry.
“This is an exciting driver line-up for our additional car," said team president Yoshiaki Kinoshita. "Anthony, Hiroaki and Sébastien are talented and intelligent drivers who have achieved plenty already in motorsport, so we are very confident they can make a positive contribution to Toyota Racing.
"Our drivers are selected on the basis not only of their speed and consistency, but also their ability to work well within a team and it’s been great to see the positive attitude all three have already brought to our project.
"Combined with our regular line-up of Alex, Nicolas and Kazuki, I believe we have a really strong team of drivers who will fly the Toyota Racing flag with pride during the Le Mans 24 Hours.”
The TS030 will skip the opening WEC round at Sebring and instead debut at the Six Hours of Spa in May.
In addition to Davidson's new signing, fellow Peugeot refugees Nic Minassian and Sebastien Bourdais are set to compete at Le Mans in a Pescarolo Dome-Judd, while Stephane Sarrazin is reportedly close to a full-season WEC drive in GTE-Pro.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
Davidson, who helped take Peugeot to the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup championship last year with three wins and multiple pole positions, will share the Japanese manufacturers' second entry with fellow former Formula One driver Sebastien Buemi and Hiroaki Ishiura.
"Competing at the Le Mans 24 Hours is always hugely exciting, but to be joining a team like Toyota Racing and competing with a hybrid powertrain makes this particularly special," Davidson said.
"I’ve heard a lot about the TS030 Hybrid and the technology behind it, and I'm looking forward to experiencing hybrid power for the first time in my career. I know this is a learning year for the team but I believe Toyota Racing has huge potential, and I hope we can prove that at Le Mans.”
It's unclear if the 32-year-old Brit will have additional drives beyond the twice-around-the-clock French classic, as Toyota has so-far confirmed only a single-car, season-long FIA World Endurance Championship entry, which will be driven by Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kaz Nakajima.
Toyota stepped up its WEC commitment following Peugeot's shock withdrawal last month, which left the FIA and ACO, organizers of the global sports car championship, with only Audi as a registered full-season manufacturer entrant in LMP1 until Toyota's late entry.
“This is an exciting driver line-up for our additional car," said team president Yoshiaki Kinoshita. "Anthony, Hiroaki and Sébastien are talented and intelligent drivers who have achieved plenty already in motorsport, so we are very confident they can make a positive contribution to Toyota Racing.
"Our drivers are selected on the basis not only of their speed and consistency, but also their ability to work well within a team and it’s been great to see the positive attitude all three have already brought to our project.
"Combined with our regular line-up of Alex, Nicolas and Kazuki, I believe we have a really strong team of drivers who will fly the Toyota Racing flag with pride during the Le Mans 24 Hours.”
The TS030 will skip the opening WEC round at Sebring and instead debut at the Six Hours of Spa in May.
In addition to Davidson's new signing, fellow Peugeot refugees Nic Minassian and Sebastien Bourdais are set to compete at Le Mans in a Pescarolo Dome-Judd, while Stephane Sarrazin is reportedly close to a full-season WEC drive in GTE-Pro.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
FIA WEC Six Hours of Spa
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
V8: COTA Friday Notebook
John Dagys explores some of the storylines from the first… -
V8: Lowndes Quickest On Friday At COTA
Red Bull Racing driver tops time charts in opening day of practice… -
INDYCAR: Viso Hits 229.537 On Wet Friday At Indy
Fast Friday's activities turned into Wet Friday just past 3 p.m.… -
PHOTOS: V8 Supercars COTA Gallery
View the first photos from Austin as V8 Supercar drivers prepare… -
MILLER: Indy Needs To Become The Week Of May
Despite decent to great weather, the Speedway has been empty the… -
INDYCAR: 230 MPH Pole Speeds At Indy Possible On Saturday
If the conditions are right on Saturday’s run for the pole,… -
INDYCAR: Live Mailbag Chat From Indy With Miller & Pruett, 2PM ET…
Join Marshall Pruett and Robin Miller for a live IndyCar Q&A session… - More News
