Toyota Gazoo Racing takes hat-trick at Le Mans

Toyota Gazoo Racing has earned a third consecutive overall Le Mans 24 Hours win with the TS050 Hybrid after a turbulent and ultimately successful race at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley completed over 5,000km of a gruelling race, held for only the second time in September, and won by five laps in the #8 TS050 Hybrid, to take the lead in the drivers' World Championship.

For Sebastien and Kazuki, this was their third consecutive Le Mans triumph and they join only seven previous drivers who have achieved that feat in the race's 97-year history, while Brendon won for the second time following his victory in 2017.

The pole position #7 TS050 Hybrid of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez had looked on course for their first win at La Sarthe until an exhaust problem, although they fought back to earn third place in the dramatic final 70 minutes.

The victory, in the penultimate round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), means Toyota Gazoo Racing is crowned Teams' World Champions, holding an unassailable 57-point lead over Rebellion Racing, its third title following those in 2014, 2018 and 2019.

The race also marked the final appearance at Le Mans for the 986bhp, four-wheel drive TS050 Hybrid which has set a new standard in terms of efficiency and performance at La Sarthe.