Toyota Will Consider Drivers’ IMSA Activities “Case-by-Case”

Toyota Gazoo Racing will take a “case-by-case” approach in permitting its FIA World Endurance Championship drivers to race for LMDh manufacturers in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year.

The Japanese manufacturer will not take its LMH-spec Toyota GR010 Hybrid to the IMSA GTP grid in 2023, with the WEC continuing as the core program.

The team’s WEC technical director Pascal Vasselon told reporters at Fuji last weekend that while Toyota would prefer its drivers not to race against rival brands, it is less of a problem next year due to its non-participation.

Some of Toyota’s WEC drivers have slotted into high-profile IMSA lineups in recent seasons, based on the DPi formula being technologically and regulatory distinct from the LMP1 and LMH cars that the team has run.

However, IMSA’s transition from DPi to LMDh after this year means that the top class, which also permits LMH cars, will have the same type of machinery as the WEC’s Hypercar category next season.

There will also be some manufacturer cross-over, with Porsche and Cadillac undertaking programs with LMDh cars in both WEC and IMSA.

“It will be case-by-case,” said Vasselon when about Toyota’s stance on its drivers racing in IMSA.

“We don’t want to have our drivers racing with people directly competing [against] us. But as we are not present in IMSA, there is not really an issue.

“The only case is Brendon who plans to race for Acura [at Motul Petit Le Mans] and Acura have no plans in WEC. They only have plans in IMSA; there are no intersections.”

Vasselon added that Toyota “did not get the question” so far regarding potential IMSA prototype drives for its WEC lineup, including its No. 7 crew of Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Jose Maria Lopez who have all driven Cadillac DPi machinery this year.

Hartley, from Toyota’s No. 8 entry, will be representing Wayne Taylor Racing at Petit Le Mans next month and has expressed interest in further U.S appearances, but he has not yet engaged in discussions with WTR or Toyota.

“I’d love to,” Hartley said when asked whether he wants to compete in select IMSA races next year.

“But it gets a bit more complicated because some of the teams will be direct competitors, which makes it difficult.”

Kobayashi and Conway have shown interest in driving other types of car in IMSA, with the former acting upon that interest with a recent GTD Pro drive for the Toyota-affiliated Vasser Sullivan Lexus squad.

Conway, meanwhile, told Sportscar365 last month that he would be open to looking at other categories if he is unable to race in GTP.

Vasselon suggested that Kobayashi’s increased workload with his new role as team principal of the Toyota Gazoo Racing WEC outfit adds a layer of complication to any potential extra-curricular driving in IMSA.

“For Kamui it’s a bit of a different question,” he said.

“Planning starts to be very busy. It’s just that it materially becomes difficult for him to manage his schedule.”

Toyota stated in June that it has “no plans” to contest January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona IMSA season-opener, while Vasselon reaffirmed that sentiment during the most recent WEC round at Fuji.

However, the manufacturer will annually review its position regarding appearances in the GTP class.

“It’s a question which we will discuss every season,” Vasselon explained.

“But for the moment, for 2023, no participation is anticipated in IMSA.

“The rules take a bit of time to settle. 2023 will be the first year for GTP in IMSA. It’s maybe just a bit too early to get involved.”