Toyota has finalised its LMP1 driver lineup for the 2017 World Endurance Championship, with Super Formula champion Yuji Kunimoto joining Nicolas Lapierre and Stéphane Sarrazin in the team's third car for Le Mans.
Kunimoto beat the likes of Porsche LMP1 star Andre Lotterer and McLaren Formula One driver Stoffel Vandoorne to win Japan's premier single seater series in 2016.
The 26-year-old has also won races in Super GT, but this year marks his first behind the wheel of an LMP1 car.
“This is really a dream for me," said Kunimoto.
"I never imagined that one day I could race for a team like Toyota at Le Mans so I am determined to make the most of this opportunity."
"I enjoyed my first tests with the TS050 HYBRID, which is a really impressive car. LMP1 and endurance racing in Europe are new to me so I am working hard to learn as much as I can from the team; I am sure I will learn a lot from Stéphane and Nicolas, who are both very experienced and quick."
Lapierre, who won the WEC LMP2 title with Signatech Alpine last year, was confirmed in the car alongside Kunimoto having been strongly linked to one of the third car's seats.
The Frenchman drove for Toyota on a full-time basis from 2012 to 2013, but was dropped from the team midway through the 2014 season.
Lapierre is attempting a hat-trick of Le Mans victories this season, having won the LMP2 class trophy the last two years.
2016 marks his tenth crack at the celebrated French endurance race.
“It’s great to be back with Toyota and I would like to thank the team for this opportunity," said Lapierre.
"I’m really looking forward to racing an LMP1 car again because the cars have developed a lot since I drove the TS040 HYBRID in 2014."
"The Spa race is coming around very quickly so I am fully focused on preparing myself for the new season. I have stood on the podium before at Le Mans with Toyota so my target is clearly to do that again this year.”
Toyota will present its new T5050 HYBRID at the Monza Prologue on March 31st.
The team will start the season with its two full-time entries at the 6 Hours of Silverstone, with Mike Conway/Kamui Kobayashi/José Maria Lopez (7) and Anthony Davidson/Sebastien Buemi/Kazuki Nakajima (8) forming the driver lineups.
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