Toyota protege Hirakawa gets second ELMS campaign
Toyota has decided to place its protege Ryo Hirakawa in the European Le Mans Series for a second season.
Photo by: Nikolaz Godet
Hirakawa raced in ELMS alongside Mathias Beche and Pierre Thiriet at the Thiriet by TDS outfit last season, scoring wins at Imola and the Red Bull Ring.
He was classified fifth in the standings after missing the Paul Ricard race due to a clashing Super GT commitment.
For 2017, the 22-year-old will join the DragonSpeed-run G-Drive Racing line-up, joining Memo Rojas and an as-yet undecided third driver behind the wheel of its #22 Oreca 07-Gibson.
Hirakawa however is set to miss two of the six rounds on the ELMS calendar at the Red Bull Ring and Paul Ricard, as these clash with Super GT races in Sugo and Suzuka respectively.
The Japanese driver has been paired with Nick Cassidy in a TOM'S Lexus for the new Super GT campaign.
Hirakawa is also expected to be revealed as a Toyota LMP1 driver for its third car at Le Mans 24 Hours and the preceding WEC race at Spa.
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