Mike Conway is back from injury and ready to get behind the wheel of the Toyota for the six hours of Sao Paulo this weekend.
Having been sidelined for the 24 Hours of Le Mans due to rib and collarbone injuries sustained in a cycling accident, Mike Conway has recovered from his injuries and can return to the number seven Toyota Hybrid.
Missing the 2024 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans last month, Mike’s teammates Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries finished second at Le Mans alongside José María López – substituting for Mike – and the #7 team are firmly in contention for the World Championship title. Mike has recovered from the injuries sustained in a pre-Le Mans cycling accident and will return to the cockpit of the #7 GR010 HYBRID car at Interlagos, alongside Kamui and Nyck.
Mike slipped to 7th in the Drivers’ Championship, due to his absences from the previous round. However, his #7 teammates occupy 3rd in the standings – 17 points behind the leaders with four races still to go – and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing also sits 3rd in the World Endurance Manufacturers’ Championship.
This week’s venue, Autodromo José Carlos Pace, is back on the WEC calendar after a 10-year absence and was the venue of Mike’s first-ever victory in the World Endurance Championship when he drove a G-Drive Racing LMP2 to class victory in the 2013 edition of the race.
Not only does Mike have fond memories of the circuit but so does his TOYOTA GAZOO Racing team – with the venue playing host to significant milestones in the team’s history. Toyota’s first hybrid-powered WEC victory came at Interlagos in 2012, just three races into its endurance racing return, while a first manufacturers’ title was secured in Sao Paolo two years later.
Speaking ahead of the weekend, Conway said: “It’s great to be back and I can’t wait to be behind the wheel again.
“Watching Le Mans from a distance was tough for me. I went through all the ups and downs with Kamui, Nyck and José but it was incredibly frustrating that I could not be part of it. I always knew we were in safe hands with José, and he did a great job.
“Now I am just looking forward to competing again, fighting at the front and hopefully helping Kamui, Nyck and the team win the World Championship.”