The Argentine has switched to the new LMGT3 class to race for sister brand Lexus after spending six full seasons in the WEC's top class, taking victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2021 and back-to-back WEC titles in 2019-20 and 2021, the final season of LMP1 and the first for Hypercar.
Lopez is the platinum-graded driver aboard the #87 RC F GT3 run by the French Auto Sport Promotion team, which switches brands this year after many years of success with Mercedes equipment in GT World Challenge Europe.
He will be joined in the pro-am class that replaces GTE Am by Esteban Masson and Takeshi Kimura, as Kelvin van der Linde, Timur Boguslavskiy and Arnold Robin share the sister #78 car.
Speaking to select media including Autosport/Motorsport.com, Lopez stressed it was never in his plan to seek another seat in Hypercar and cut ties with Toyota.
"I’ve been very long involved with this family of Toyota so my main objective was to stay with them," said the 40-year-old.
"Of course, I will not lie, I would have liked to probably do a couple of years more in Hypercar, but I’m not a kid anymore.
"This project was very interesting for me and also for everyone involved behind. The category is looking amazing and I’m very happy to be part of it.
Source: Autosport