24h Le Mans
Toyota Gazoo Racing Technical Director David Floury looks back at the highlights of the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans and tells us how eager his team is to return to the top of the podium in 2025.
What did you feel while watching the official film of the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans and looking back on your journey this far?
David Floury: It was a hotly contested race. Ferrari AF Corse won the day and, once again, I congratulate them on their victory. Watching the official film, my mind cast back to the first time I came to the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a young boy. I remember marvelling at the cars and promising my big brother who brought me that I’d be on the other side of the fence one day. I’ll never forget my childhood dreams or where I came from. I’m pleased to make a contribution to this spectacle so that others can dream.
This year, your two Toyota GR010 Hybrids failed to qualify for Hyperpole. What was going through your mind during qualifying?
DF: I’m a competitor and it’s true that qualifying was hardly the high point of the week for us. When you come to Le Mans, and you’ve worked very hard all year to be ready for the race, it’s quite frustrating to not qualify as well as we’d hope. We nonetheless remained focused on what we had to do.
What do you need to do to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans again?
DF: We just need to climb one step further up the podium to win the race for a sixth time after 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. I could say we need a little luck on our side, but that’s something we have no control over. We’re going to work hard until next June to be in good shape to win the race. As a team, Toyota never gives up. We showed as much at the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain by picking up the Manufacturers’ title. We’ll be in the same frame of mind in June 2025.
How does Toyota view its future commitment to the Hydrogen class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans?
DF: It’s a topic we’re examining closely and one we’re already working on with the FIA, the ACO and other manufacturers. It’s a real technological challenge. It’s much greater than the hybrid challenge we overcame over ten years ago now. We’re lucky to have the MissionH24 project already underway. Toyota has entered races in Japan with a Corolla GR H2. We’re using this car as a learning tool. I can’t give you an exact time frame for entering the Hydrogen class. However, it’s a project that we hold dear. We fully intend to use racing as a platform to develop better cars.
