Mike Conway will begin his FIA World Endurance Championship campaign this weekend with the opening round of the season at Silverstone.

After a comprehensive testing schedule that saw TOYOTA GAZOO Racing rack up around 35,000km of pre-season miles, focus now moves onto Mike’s home race and the opening round of the new year – the 6 Hours of Silverstone.

The new spec version of the TS050 HYBRID sees the heavily-modified prototype take to the track for its competitive debut and it will be looking to replicate its previous success – with the Japanese team finishing on the podium in each of its five previous visits so far.

After topping the time sheets on both days of the “Prologue” at Monza, Toyota will now take to the 3.66-mile track, prepared to do battle with Porsche at the 6 Hours of Silverstone. After Audi dropped out of the WEC at the end of 2016, this season’s championship will see a two-way battle for manufacturers’ bragging rights.

Joining Mike in the #7 TS050 HYBRID is last year’s teammate Kamui Kobayashi and three-time World Touring Car champion, José María López – who is set to make his Toyota race debut this weekend. Having enjoyed success at Silverstone in previous years, Mike will be looking to defend the Richard Lloyd Trophy which was presented to him last year as the highest placed member of the British Racing Drivers’ Club.

Mike Conway is excited to get back to his home track this weekend and is optimistic of his team’s chances entering the weekend.

“Silverstone is my home race; a track I raced on many, many times. I really like Silverstone because it’s fast flowing and good fun. It will be a tricky race especially with traffic but I think we have a competitive car and we arrive there well prepared. Even though it’s hard to tell at the moment where we are compared to our main rival, I’m sure we will see a tough battle so I’m really looking forward to it and I’m optimistic.”

Track action begins on Friday with two 90-minute sessions, while a final hour-long practice on Saturday morning takes place before qualifying. The six-hour race, which last year saw 1,144km completed by the winning car, begins at midday on Sunday.