Mike Conway, a Toyota driver in the FIA World Endurance Championship, has revealed that he will step away from elite-level motorsport at the conclusion of the current season.
The 43-year-old British racer boasts a storied endurance racing career, including two WEC drivers’ championships (2019-20 and 2021) and two Le Mans 24 Hours victories (2021 and 2026).
Even this season, Conway remains well within title contention, sitting just ten points behind the leaders—fellow Toyota teammates Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa—in the standings.
Although he has been part of Toyota’s lineup since 2014, Sportscar365 had previously indicated that Conway was unlikely to remain with the Japanese manufacturer for the next campaign.
With retirement now officially confirmed, it is anticipated that Kevin Estre of Porsche Penske Motorsport in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship could assume Conway’s seat in the Toyota TR010 Hybrid for the forthcoming WEC season.
In a video posted on social media, Conway described his racing career as an “emotional journey” and said he would always “treasure” his Le Mans successes with Toyota, which he regards as a place he can truly call home.
Before joining Toyota for the WEC, Conway emerged as a rising star in single-seaters, claiming the 2006 British Formula 3 championship and triumphing at the Macau Grand Prix before moving on to GP2.
He later became a test driver for Honda in Formula 1 but never had the opportunity to race in the category, instead spending six seasons competing in IndyCar from 2009 to 2014.
It was during this period that he first ventured into sports cars, finishing third in the 2013 WEC LMP2 standings with G-Drive Racing before moving up to the premier LMP1 class with three Toyota appearances the following season.
Since 2015, Conway has been a constant presence in Toyota’s lineup and has also logged sporadic endurance stints in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, primarily with Action Express Racing, including a runner-up finish at the 2018 Rolex 24 at Daytona aboard a Cadillac DPi-V.R. and three additional second-place finishes at Petit Le Mans.
Conway’s Retirement Message in Full
Hello everyone. I wanted to share with you that, at the end of this season, I will be stepping away from professional driving.
Reaching this point has been an incredible journey, and one I’m genuinely proud of. It’s been an emotional ride—full of highs and lows, spanning multiple racing disciplines, and bringing me to a place I’ve called home for the last 13 seasons with Toyota.
I think the story began when I was eight years old, a decision my dad and I made together to pursue this path.
From there, the years blended as you progress through the ranks—Formula Renault, Formula 3, GP2—and even a stint of Formula 1 testing, which was quite a cool experience. Then came the move to America.
I signed a one-year IndyCar contract. I didn’t know much about ovals; it was a real baptism of fire. I had some crashes, but I also found success on tracks I grew to enjoy—especially street courses and similar venues.
Ultimately, I started to look at sports cars as an alternative, which is what brought me to Toyota—a place that has felt like home for 13 seasons and has been genuinely enjoyable.
It has been an extraordinary journey, one I never could have imagined. I’ve shared the track with amazing teammates, we’ve had plenty of laughs, and we still do.
There have been numerous victories—not only as a manufacturer but also with drivers’ world titles and, of course, Le Mans. Le Mans proved elusive for our team for many years, and as car 7 we came close repeatedly—four, five seconds away—before finally achieving the win in 2021 with José (María López) and Kamui (Kobayashi).
That win was special and one I’ll cherish for a long time. The most recent triumph in 2026 also felt particularly meaningful.
There are countless people to thank. Primarily my family—dad, mom, sister, and brother—who have been part of this journey for a long time. My dad has played a huge part and is dearly missed today.
And even my growing family now; my child is three-and-a-half, and I want to be there to watch them grow, which is a significant factor. My wife deserves sincere thanks for her support as well.
A shout-out to Mark Blundell (my manager) as well; he’s been with me for more than 20 years. We’ve shared a lot, and I’m grateful for all the support he has given me.
There have been fantastic teammates along the way, especially at Toyota. I’ve learned a lot from all of you, and it’s been a lot of fun sharing the cars with you.
Perhaps the moments away from the car have been the most memorable of all.
There are so many thanks to give—every person I’ve worked with in the factory, not just those on the race team, but everyone here full-time.
Thanks to everyone in Japan for the hard work that has driven this team’s success, and thank you to Akio Toyoda for his support.
From my earliest days racing Rye House karts to standing on the Le Mans podium, and all the people in between, a heartfelt thanks for being part of this journey. You’ve all played a role along the way, and I’m grateful for that.
