Toyota secures double podium finish at 6 Hours of Imola to start 2026 WEC season

Toyota Racing has started its 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) campaign with a strong result, securing a double podium finish at the 6 Hours of Imola.

The No.8 Toyota TR010 Hybrid Electric Hypercar, driven by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa, took first place after working its way into the lead during the race. The sister No.7 car, piloted by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries, finished third, completing a successful opening round for the team.

The race also marked a milestone for Toyota, representing its 100th race in the WEC hybrid era and delivering its 50th championship victory.

Challenging race conditions

Held at Imola, the race saw evolving conditions, with light rain and strong winds in the later stages adding complexity to tyre and fuel strategy.

The Toyota TR010 Hybrid Electric Hypercar — introduced in January 2026 as an evolution of the previous GR010 — demonstrated consistent performance across the six-hour race, supported by strategic execution and stable pace.

No.8 car takes victory

The No.8 entry remained among the front-runners throughout the race before taking the lead during the middle stages.

In the final hours, the crew managed changing track conditions effectively, maintaining control despite a late shower to secure victory.

No.7 car completes podium

The No.7 Toyota TR010 also showed strong pace, steadily moving up the order over the course of the race.

It eventually secured third place, finishing just under a minute behind the winning car to ensure a double podium for Toyota Racing.

Focus on performance and development

Toyota continues to use motorsport as a platform for technological development, with endurance racing playing a key role in testing performance, durability, and efficiency under extreme conditions.

From 2026, the brand competes under the Toyota Racing banner in the WEC, further strengthening its motorsport identity alongside ongoing GAZOO Racing activities in rally and customer motorsports.

Next round: Spa-Francorchamps

The 2026 WEC season continues with the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on May 9. The Belgian circuit is known for its high-speed layout, elevation changes, and unpredictable weather, presenting another demanding test for teams and drivers.

Race results

No.8 Toyota TR010 Hybrid Electric Hypercar

• Drivers: Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Ryō Hirakawa
• Position: 1st
• Laps: 213
• Best lap: 1:32.490
• Total time: 6:00:10.939

No.7 Toyota TR010 Hybrid Electric Hypercar

• Drivers: Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, Nyck de Vries
• Position: 3rd
• Laps: 213
• Best lap: 1:32.659
• Total time: 6:00:52.126