Conway Ruled Out of COTA; Toyota Calls Up Lopez

Toyota has announced that Mike Conway will miss this weekend’s Lone Star Le Mans round of the FIA World Endurance Championship due to injury, with Jose Maria Lopez being drafted in to take his place for the Circuit of The Americas race.

Lopez will drive the No. 7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid together with Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries after Conway suffered a collarbone injury in a training accident.

It is the second time Akkodis ASP Lexus LMGT3 regular Lopez has filled in for Conway, following last year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“I’m sad for Mike, who is a great friend, and I know he is so disappointed that he cannot race in Austin,” commented Lopez. “I wish him all the best for a speedy recovery.

“It’s an unexpected opportunity for me to work with everyone in the team again, and I am sure it will be just like old times very quickly. I feel ready for the challenge, and I will give everything to get a strong result with Kamui and Nyck.”

Toyota’s No. 8 car will be driven by regular trio Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa, as Buemi returns to action following his absence from last month’s 6 Hours of Sao Paulo due to a Formula E clash.

Lopez’s place in ASP’s No. 87 Lexus RC F GT3 at COTA will be taken by Jack Hawksworth.

Vasser Sullivan IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship regular Hawksworth also deputized for Lopez at Le Mans last year when the Argentine driver was called up to replace Conway in the Toyota Hypercar squad.