Lopez: “Nothing to Prove” on Toyota Hypercar Return

Jose Maria Lopez says he has “nothing to prove” on his return to the Toyota Hypercar ranks for this weekend’s FIA World Endurance Championship round at the Circuit of The Americas, as he stands in for an injured Mike Conway.

Toyota announced on Monday that unofficial reserve driver Lopez would step in for Conway after the Briton was injured in a training accident, joining Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries in the No. 7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid for the Lone Star Le Mans event.

It marks the second time that Akkodis ASP Lexus LMGT3 regular Lopez, has filled in for Conway in the past 18 months after doing so in last year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

After starring on his return to the top class at Le Mans on that occasion, Lopez says he is taking a relaxed approach to this weekend’s COTA race, while admitting that the “intensity” of the competition in Hypercar has only increased in the interim.

“Of course there are always mixed feelings, because Mike is a friend and you don’t want anything bad to happen to a friend,” Lopez told Sportscar365.

“But from my side it’s nice to be back. We won in Brazil with the Lexus, so it feels a bit strange not to be there this time, but to be back on this level in this car is good.

“For me, Le Mans last year was very good, running a lot and fighting for the win until the end. It was a great race for me. I feel like I never should have left!

“This is different, more of a sprint, the competition is really strong and the races have been really intense this year. If there is anything I have to worry about, it’s that, because I haven’t been doing that kind of racing for a couple of years.

“But I have nothing to prove. I will enjoy it and do my best for the team and help them achieve what they want to achieve while Mike is not here.”

Lopez’s last outing the GR010 Hybrid came during an endurance test at Paul Ricard earlier this year, although he was also able to spend time on the simulator at Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe’s Cologne facility before making the trip to COTA.

However, having not driven the Austin, Texas circuit in a prototype since the 2020 WEC season, he conceded that getting used to the track again will be a bigger challenge than when he was called up to race at Le Mans last year.

“It feels quite natural when I jump in the car,” said Lopez. “I was able to do a few laps on the simulator last Sunday before coming here, just to get a bit in the rhythm and get used to the procedures again, as some of them changed.

“The main thing for me is the track. I haven’t driven this track in this kind of car for a while, and it’s a very challenging track, with the bumps and the heat and everything.

“I drove here with the LMGT3 last year, but it’s a different animal with the speed you have in sector one. Le Mans I know by heart, but here I may need a bit more time to adjust.”

After a difficult weekend for Toyota in Sao Paulo, where the two GR010 Hybrids finished 14th and 15th, Lopez admitted he does not have high hopes of the Japanese marque fighting at the front of the Hypercar field this weekend.

“Sao Paulo was really tough, and I don’t see there being a big difference this time,” he said. “I hope not, but I don’t see us fighting at the front unless it rains or something.”