Le Mans 2025: Toyota Reveals GT-One Retro-Inspired Livery For French Endurance Race

Toyota will celebrate a landmark moment in its Le Mans history by unveiling a special livery on one of its cars this year. The design pays tribute to the GT-One (TS020), which came close to winning the 1999 race. The red-and-white look, featuring a tearing effect and a Japanese flag behind the doors, mirrors the style of the 1998 car. It recalls the bold visual designs of late-'90s Le Mans cars, even as Toyota remains a dominant team today.

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The No. 7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid will carry this tribute livery at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans. Driven by Nyck de Vries, Mike Conway, and Kamui Kobayashi, the car connects past and present by combining the 1998 GT-One design with modern hybrid technology. Meanwhile, the No. 8 Toyota will continue to use the team's current matte black livery. This mix shows Toyota's balance between tradition and innovation.

Toyota’s first serious shot at Le Mans glory came in 1999 with the GT-One. The car was originally developed under GT rules but was later reclassified as a prototype. It impressed by locking out the front row in qualifying and running at the front during the race. Though mechanical issues dashed hopes of a win, the GT-One remains an example of Toyota's efforts to crack endurance racing.

The 1999 race became one of Toyota’s most painful near-wins. In the final hour, the leading GT-One suffered a puncture, allowing BMW to take the win. Still, Toyota claimed second place and a class victory, showing both the GT-One's speed and the narrow margins that define Le Mans. The heartbreak of 1999 made Toyota’s 2018 victory, and those that followed, even more meaningful.

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Now a five-time winner since 2018, Toyota took over two decades to reach the top of Le Mans. The 1999 GT-One campaign stands out as a turning point—proof that the brand had the speed to compete. This year’s throwback livery isn’t just a design choice; it marks how far Toyota has come and celebrates the persistence that got them there.