Sebastien Buemi told media that the LMP1 cars, the former top class cars at Le Mans, were ‘clearly better’ than the current Hypercar top class cars.
“The LMP1 was clearly much better. Much faster. Much lighter. Somehow I did enjoy it more,” said the Swiss.
“On the other hand, I like the fact that we have now a lot of competition with the Hypercars and all the manufacturers that join the championship.
“I think for the the state of the sport, for the drivers, for everyone involved, I think it ends up being a better show and a better race with the current rules.”
Buemi has raced with Toyota since 2012, when the Japanese manufacturer debuted in the FIA World Endurance Championship. This means he’s the only ‘original’ driver of Toyota’s first driver lineup, and has driven every Toyota prototype in WEC history.
This includes the TS030, which Toyota started with in 2012, the TS040, introduced in 2014, and the TS050, introduced in 2016 and raced until 2020. The team’s first Hypercar, the GR010 Hybrid, debuted in 2021 and is the car the team competes with, and Buemi drives, today.
Specifically, Buemi drives the #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid alongside Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa.
“I think generally the regulation has involved a lot with the fact that costs had to come down,” he said.
“The technology is obviously different, the hybrid systems are different. But sportingly speaking, we now have a lot more people involved, a lot more manufacturers.
“So from that aspect, I think the ACO and FIA have done a good job to attract people. Then we will need to to see how long everyone stays. But so far it’s been it’s been good.
“But even as I said, I miss the speed and the technology of the LMP1 a bit. As a driver you always want to drive a faster car. ”
