WEC News: Toyota’s Mike Conway Sidelined by Injury for COTA

In a blow to Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Hypercar campaign, veteran driver Mike Conway (pictured) has been ruled out of the upcoming Lone Star Le Mans 6 Hours at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, due to a shoulder injury sustained in a training incident.

The news, announced on September 1, 2025, comes just days before the sixth round of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season, scheduled for Sunday, September 7. Conway, a key member of the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid lineup, will be replaced by fellow Argentine Jose Maria “Pechito” Lopez, marking the second time in little over a year that Lopez has stepped in for the British driver amid injury woes.

The 42-year-old Conway, from Sevenoaks, Kent, suffered a collarbone fracture last week during what Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe (TGR) described vaguely as a “training accident.” Details remain sparse, with no official prognosis released on his recovery timeline or potential return for the next WEC round—the 6 Hours of Fuji on September 28, Toyota’s home race in Japan. This incident echoes a strikingly similar misfortune for Conway at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he broke his collarbone and two ribs in a cycling accident just days before the event.

That time, too, Lopez was called upon as a substitute, helping the #7 car secure a hard-fought second place behind the sister #8 Toyota. Conway, who had returned triumphantly to the cockpit for the 2024 Sao Paulo round after his Le Mans absence, now faces another setback that could disrupt his momentum in a season where Toyota has been chasing Porsche in the manufacturers’ standings.

Lopez, a 42-year-old triple World Touring Car Champion (2014–2016) and former full-time Toyota WEC driver from 2017 to 2023, brings a wealth of experience to the #7 GR010 Hybrid. During his tenure with TGR, he partnered with Conway and Kamui Kobayashi to secure back-to-back drivers’ titles in 2019–20 and 2021, including victories at iconic events like the 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours. Currently racing in the LMGT3 class for the AKKODIS ASP team in a Lexus RC F GT3 (representing Toyota’s sister brand), Lopez had been kept sharp on the Hypercar by winter testing the GR010 at Paul Ricard in France.

He was already on standby for Le Mans earlier this year, ensuring he’s up to speed with the car’s hybrid powertrain and demanding stints. Lopez will join forces with regular teammates Kobayashi (who also serves as team principal) and Dutch rookie Nyck de Vries in the #7 car for the Austin showdown.

The replacement has triggered a ripple effect in the paddock. Lopez’s absence from the #87 Lexus LMGT3 entry means British driver Jack Hawksworth, a Vasser Sullivan regular in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, will step in alongside Clemens Schmid and Petru Umbrarescu.

Hawksworth himself filled in for Lopez at Le Mans 2024 during the previous Conway substitution, creating an ironic full-circle moment for the 35-year-old. Meanwhile, Toyota’s #8 GR010 Hybrid will run with its full factory lineup of Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa. Buemi returns after sitting out the July Sao Paulo round due to a Formula E commitment, where the car managed a two-driver effort but finished off the podium.

Team principal Kobayashi expressed disappointment but optimism in a TGR statement: “Of course, we are all disappointed that Mike cannot join us in #7, but Jose has proved he is a very capable substitute. As well as wishing Mike a quick recovery, I would like to say a big thanks to AKKODIS ASP for their support in allowing Jose to step in.” He added that the team had used the eight-week summer break to analyze their underwhelming Sao Paulo performance—where the #7 car took pole but retired early due to technical issues—and aims to rebound strongly at COTA, a track where Toyota has yet to claim victory despite six previous visits.

Kobayashi highlighted the circuit’s challenging anti-clockwise layout, steep uphill to Turn 1, and expected high Texas temperatures, which demand a three-driver rotation for endurance management.

Lopez echoed the sentiment, blending empathy with enthusiasm: “I’m sad for Mike, who is a great friend, and I know he is so disappointed that he cannot race in Austin. 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.”

The Argentine, speaking from his dual role in LMGT3, noted the seamless transition back to Hypercar duties, drawing parallels to his successful Le Mans fill-in last year.

Conway’s injury adds to a season of challenges for Toyota, which leads the Hypercar manufacturers’ championship but faces stiff competition from Porsche Penske Motorsport.

The German squad is also bolstering its lineup for Austin by recalling IMSA regulars Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell to their #5 and #6 963 LMDh cars, reverting to three drivers amid the heat. Recent Balance of Performance (BoP) tweaks have hit Toyota with reduced power (down 9kW or 12bhp) and added weight (5kg), though a 1.8% power gain above 250km/h could help on COTA’s long straights.

Historically, COTA has been tough for TGR—their best result is second place in 2014 and 2020—with Conway’s personal highlight a third in 2020. The Briton’s debut with Toyota was at this very circuit back in 2014, making the irony of his absence poignant after a decade of service that includes 18 WEC wins and two titles.

As the WEC calendar resumes after a long hiatus, all eyes will be on whether Lopez can gel quickly with the #7 crew to keep Toyota in contention. Track action kicks off Friday with practice sessions, leading into qualifying and the Hyperpole on Saturday.

With Fuji looming as a potential return for Conway, the Austin round underscores the unforgiving nature of endurance racing—where preparation meets unpredictability, and team depth becomes a championship lifeline. Fans at COTA, known for its vibrant American motorsport atmosphere, can expect a fierce battle under the Texas sun, as Porsche and Ferrari lurk ready to capitalize on any Toyota stumbles.