Toyota TS030 Driver Ishiura Declines Le Mans Drive

Days after successfully repairing the the TS030Toyota TS030 HYBRIDJapan, 2012 > present5 photos
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, the Toyota Hybrid Racing team has experienced another set back. Driver Hiroaki Ishiura has decided not to drive the #8 Toyota TS030 hybrid race car during the 24 Hours of Le Mans due to intense back pain caused by the high G-forces created by the car. Toyota has a month to find a driver to replace Ishiura before th 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

“This was an extremely difficult decision to take because racing at Le Mans is my dream, but my physical condition has to be the priority. I did not feel I was in the right condition to race an LM P1 car at Le Mans this year but I will focus on recovering as I really want to drive for TOYOTA Racing next year. For now I will focus my energy entirely on Super GT and the Nürburgring 24 Hours, whilst supporting TOYOTA Racing from a distance,” said Ishiura.

The team currently has Andrea Caldarelli. Although he has not been nominated at the Le Mans driver yet. Caldarelli is currently driving a LexusLexus SC430Japan, 2001 > present2 photos
in the Super GT GT500 class and raced in GP2, GP3 and Formula Nippon last season. He became a member of the Toyota Young Drivers Program in 2007. 

Ishiura's background is in racing in the Formula Nippon series with the Kygnus Sunoco team and in Super GT in the GT500 class for the Lexus team.