Brendon Hartley at Toyota?

Without a complete program since Toro Rosso thanked him at the end of the 2018 season, the 29-year-old New Zealander seems to have a great ability to bounce back. It must be said that the person concerned did not miss his return to Endurance at Sebring last March, finishing 3rd in the 1000 Miles in the #1 SMP Racing BR11-AER and 3rd in the 12 Hours in the Cadillac DPi-V. R n°5 of Action Express Racing. A time anticipated in Formula E in Porsche, alongside Neel Jani, the winner of the 24 2017 Hours of Le Mans would be on the start.

Leave Zuffenhausen, okay, but to go where? At the house of Toyota Of course. Fernando Alonso having added the 24 Hours of Le Mans to his record, he will not continue the adventure with the Japanese team. And the headhunters of the stable would have had their sights set on Brendon Hartley, a former opponent of the house and who has won two Endurance world champion crowns, in 2015 and 2017 with the 919 Hybrid.

If he should therefore enjoy the status of full pilot for the 2019-2020 financial year, he could join Pascal Vasselon's troops shortly, since he would already take on the status of reservist on the occasion of the 87th edition, in two months. We could therefore see him from Test Day, June 2, decked out in the red and white combination. According to our information, this is not the only arrival to be expected in the coming months in Cologne, TMG HQ. Consequently, Hartley leaves a seat vacant in the #1 BR11 at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (May 4).

Discover the latest information on Endurance in AUTO issue 2212hebdo, available now in digital version on all platforms, and on newsstands this Wednesday.