José Maria López to replace Mike Conway in #7 Toyota for 24 Hours of Le Mans
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has announced that José Maria López will replace Mike Conway to drive alongside Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries in the #7 Toyota GR010-Hybrid after the two-time FIA World Endurance champion suffered an injury in a cycling accident on Thursday June the 6th.
Conway suffered fractures to his ribs and collar and is not fit to contest the twice-round-the-clock enduro which gets underway on Saturday the 15th of June.
José Maria López previously raced for Toyota between 2017 and 2023 and will return to the team to take part in Sunday June the 9th’s Test Day, the first time the 2024 Hypercar grid will have experienced the Circuit de la Sarth in readiness for the 24 Hours. López had been set to drive the #87 Akkodis ASP Lexus RC F GT3 alongside Takeshi Kimura and Estaban Masson.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing explained that Conway will immediately begin rehabilitation with the objective of getting the 40-year-old driver back in the cockpit as soon as he is fit.
In a statement released on the evening of Friday June 7th, the team expressed its support to get Conway back to full fitness in readiness for further WEC competition.
“TOYOTA GAZOO Racing shares Mike’s heartfelt disappointment at this situation and will continue to give close support throughout his journey back to full fitness. All team members are looking forward to seeing Mike – part of the team family sine 2014 – back in the cockpit at the earliest opportunity.
“Mike will immediately begin an intensive rehabilitation programme, under the supervision of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing staff, with the target of returning to the FIA World Endurance Championship action as soon as possible.”
