Toyota has confirmed that Nicolas Lapierre will return to its ranks for two rounds of the FIA World Enduranc♌e Championship in 2017, racing in the #9 TS050 Hybrid at Spa and Le Mꦇans.

Lapierre joined﷽ Toyota's LMP1 team in 2012, but was dropped halfway through the 2014 campaign over an alleged lack of pace despite being en route to the drivers' title with team-mates Anthony Davidson and Sebastien Buemi.

Lapierre returned to Le Mans the following year with KCMG, leading the team to victory in LMP2, and then enjoyed a dominant charge to the class title with Signateꦑch Alpine last year.

The💧 Frenchman's efforts have done enough to secure h𒁏im a seat in Toyota's third car for Spa and Le Mans, linking up with Stephane Sarrazin and 2016 Super Formula champion Yuji Kunimoto, the latter also being announced on Tuesday.

"It's great to be back with Toyota and I would like to thank the team for this opportunity," Lapierre said. "I'm really looking forward to racing an LM🌳P1 car again because the cars have developed a lot since I drove the TS040 Hybrid in 2014.

"The Spa race is coming around very quickly so I am fully focused on🐼 preparing myself for the new season. I have stood on the podium before at Le Mans with Toyota so my target is clearly to do that again this year."

Kunimoto added: "This is really a dream for me. I never imagined that one day I could race for a team like Toyꩵota at Le Mans so I am determined to make the most of this opportunity. I enjoyed my first tests with the TS050 Hybrid, which is a really impressive car.