Rebellion LMP1 driver Laurent to Toyota as WEC test and reserve
Rebellion LMP1 driver Thomas Laurent will join Toyota as test and reserve driver for the 2019/20 World Endurance Championship
The 21-year-old Frenchman will begin work with the Japanese manufacturer after next month's Le Mans 24 Hours 2018/19 series finale and will participate in its pre-season test programme.
The deal follows a run in a Toyota TS050 HYBRID at the WEC rookie test at Bahrain at the end of 2017, the season in which he finished on the podium at Le Mans and was runner-up in the LMP2 points with the Jota-run Jackie Chan DC Racing squad.
Laurent said: "It is an honour to become an official Toyota Gazoo Racing driver, joining a manufacturer team for the first time in my career.
"My focus at the moment is to enjoy a successful end to the WEC season with my current team at Le Mans, but naturally I am looking forward to driving the TS050 HYBRID again and being part of a world championship-winning team."
Toyota team president Hisatake Murata described Laurent as as a "talented and consistent driver, which is particularly impressive considering he is still a young man".
"Based on his performances so far, I am sure he will continue his rapid development and become a real star of endurance racing for many years to come," he added.
"Everyone in the team is excited to see his progress."
It is unclear whether Laurent, who lies third in the P1 points with Rebellion team-mate Gustavo Menezes going into Le Mans, will undertake a WEC race programme alongside his Toyota duties.
He has been linked to a move back to LMP2 with the Signatech Alpine squad.
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Jota's first Le Mans car to return to competition
Why Porsche doesn't expect another WEC domination at Imola
Why Peugeot had no choice but to revamp its radical Le Mans Hypercar
Toyota "surprised in two directions" by Rebellion's Le Mans pace
Rebellion calls time early on WEC involvement, will miss Bahrain finale
Can Rebellion cause an upset at Le Mans?
WRC teams pushing FIA to keep current Rally1 rules for 2025
Rovanpera hails "clever" plan to seal faultless WRC Safari win
Can Evans win the race to replace Rovanpera in WRC 2024?
F1 Chinese GP: Stroll leads FP1 as small fire causes early red flag
Live: F1 Chinese GP updates – FP1 & Sprint qualifying
How real-time scrutineering ensures fair and consistent competition in motorsport
How MotoGP brakes work: Secrets of stopping a 220mph bike
Ranking Derek Warwick’s top 10 greatest races
Why Peugeot had no choice but to revamp its radical Le Mans Hypercar
How motorsport is embracing the opportunities of AI
The experiment WEC could revisit to magnify its boom period
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments