Mike Conway will bring the curtain down on his race career this weekend as the World Endurance Championship reaches its finale in Monza.
Conway and his Toyota Racing teammates in the number seven Toyota still have a chance of winning the drivers title, although they are 17 points behind their sister car. He does sign-off with a manufacturers title though, having sealed that title at the penultimate round of the season in Barcelona.
Le Mans winners Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries are aiming for their first title together in the #7 TR010 HYBRID. Mike and Kamui already have two titles to their name after wins in 2019-20 and 2021, while Nyck is chasing his first.
Regardless of the result, the 6 Hours of Monza will be a milestone for TOYOTA RACING. It marks the end of the TR010 HYBRID’s debut season, which has already delivered both World Championships and four race wins, including the Le Mans 24 Hours and the team’s home race at Fuji Speedway.
Monza will also see Mike’s last race, prior to his retirement from full-time competition. It will be his 86th race with the team since joining in 2014. Since then, he has won 20 races – including two Le Mans victories – and finished on the podium 47 times.
Two of Mike’s wins have come at Monza, the legendary Temple of Speed located in parkland close to Milan in northern Italy. In three WEC races there, the team has won twice – in 2021 and 2023 – and finished on the podium four times.
Like the Circuit de la Sarthe, Monza is famed for its long straights and tight chicanes, requiring good top speed and braking stability. The team will start its on-track preparations on Friday 6 November with two practice sessions before Hypercar qualifying the following day. The 6 Hours of Monza starts at 11am local time on Sunday 8 November.
Speaking ahead of the final race, Conway, said: “It’s the last one for me at Monza but there’s still lots to play for in terms of the drivers’ title. It obviously got a lot harder for us, but we’ve still got a shot, so we’ll give it our all and do our absolute best. I’ve had 12 seasons with the team, and I’ve enjoyed every single one of them.
“It’s coming to an end but it’s the close of one chapter and the start of another for me. A big thank you to TOYOTA, and personally to Morizo-san, for giving us all this amazing opportunity. Thank you also to everyone in Cologne, at Higashi-Fuji and all those involved in the programme for their hard work over the years together. It’s been a real fun ride, and I wish everyone the best for the future.”