Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman deliver verdict on Toyota GT Concept cars at Goodwood

The 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed has certainly delivered for fans as the event celebrates the 75th anniversary of Formula 1. But while several F1 drivers, past and present, were seen driving machinery from the championship up the hillclimb, Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman were treated to two concept cars from team partner Toyota.

Wearing heavy camouflage upon their reveal earlier this week, the GT Concept and GT Racing Concept cars are the latest performance cars to come from the Japanese marque. While the brand has remained tight-lipped on their specifications, both sport long bonnets and aggressive styling with similar design cues to the legendary Lexus LFA first released in 2011.

“It was a lot of fun,” Ocon enthused following his run in the road car variant. “It’s a fantastic car to drive, honestly. I got a chance to drive the race car yesterday and Ollie was driving the road car. We swapped today so got a bit of the feel, a bit of more comfort this morning than yesterday.

“But honestly, it’s incredibly fast, incredibly capable, and a big thank you to Toyota for trusting us driving these beasts today. Because every time we meet with the Toyota guys, it’s a surprise, and there’s more coming for me today.”

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Both cars are rumoured to be powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 engine generating upwards of 900 horsepower. While this figure is unconfirmed, Bearman was still mightily happy with the levels of performance these cars exhibited on the hillclimb. 

“Yesterday, I got to try the road-going version. The GT is definitely a bit faster, but both amazing cars in their own right.

“[The GT] car is really more suited to a track like this,” he explained. “You know, in F1, we’re not really pushing. We have a few too many horsepower and missing a bit of rubber – let’s say at the rear tyres – to push. But with the GT car, it really – that track comes alive, and I really, really enjoyed it.

“It was the first time I actually pushed around Goodwood, and I really, really had fun.”

For Ocon, it was an opportunity to drive his father, Laurent Ocon, up the famous hillclimb for the first time.

“He really enjoyed driving around here. It’s the first time I managed to take him onboard. Just to see the crowd, to see the atmosphere, and how fast the car is flying by, it’s quite impressive, you know, to have the hay bales that close.”

When pressed about who could “burn more rubber,” it was an even fight between the two.

“I think it’s one each,” Ocon finished with a laugh.