Stéphane Sarrazin returns to the No. 7 Toyota for Le Mans

Following José Maria Lopez's injury, Toyota has made a slight adjustment to its driver lineup: Stéphane Sarrazin returns to the wheel of the No. 7 Toyota, while the Argentine now takes the wheel of the No. 9 car.

Toyota approached this season with a clear goal: to win the WEC's flagship event, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. To stack the odds in its favor, the Japanese brand fine-tuned every element of its program, including its drivers. After José María López withdrew from the final six hours at Spa-Francorchamps, Toyota reshuffled its lineup for the two-day race at La Sarthe. Initially, Stéphane Sarrazin was set to drive the third car, No. 9, to make room for the three-time WTCC world champion. In the end, the Frenchman kept the wheel of the No. 7 alongside his former teammates Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi. López will join the other team, alongside driver Nicolas Lapierre, who is back with the team, and rookie Yuji Kunimoto. The third car will serve as a development platform, allowing two drivers to take their first steps at Le Mans, as team president Toshio Sato explains: “Recent events, particularly José María's injury, have changed our plans. He hasn't driven much in the WEC this year, so it makes sense to change the team's lineup. Stéphane fits in well with the No. 7 car and can fight for victory. José María and Yuji will gain valuable experience at Le Mans, learning the circuit and the race itself, which is a crucial step for the future.” López is expected to return to the No. 7 car for the next round, the Six Hours of Nürburgring. Source: www.racingbusiness.fr