MOTORSPORT – TOYOTA Racing’s victory and double podium at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans on Sunday extended their advantage in the manufacturers’ championship and put their number seven crew in the lead of the drivers’ standings after three rounds in the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
Toyota’s number seven TR010 Hybrid driven by Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway, and Nyck de Vries charged to an incredible victory – the Japanese outfit’s sixth in the legendary French race – while their teammates Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa in their number eight Hypercar joined them on the overall podium in third place.
Toyota now sit atop the WEC’s Hypercar world endurance manufacturers’ championship table with 132 points – stretching the gap to their closest challengers BMW to 36 points.
The Kobayashi-Conway-de Vries triumvirate also leapfrogged the BMW M Team WRT number 20 pair of Rene Rast and Robin Frijns to first place in the Hypercar world endurance drivers’ championship, where they have 75 points – four ahead of Rast and Frijns. Buemi-Hartley-Hirakawa are fourth on 56.
“It was very challenging for us, but we never gave up,” said Kobayashi, who is also the Toyota Racing team principal.
“Car number seven has had a lot of second places at Le Mans, but finally we got our second win. We have waited so long for this victory and it feels amazing.
“The whole week was not easy, including the race, which was not smooth. We had a puncture early and that made it tough for us. It was an incredible day.”
Conway added: “It was a crazy race. I knew we could move forward from our qualifying position, but I just didn’t know how far or how tight the battle would be. Positions were swapping back and forth, and it wasn’t until the last couple of hours that we felt we were in with a chance.”
Toyota’s number eight car led the early stages thanks to the alternative fuel strategy, but an off-track moment in the ninth hour, a drive-through penalty around half distance, and a brake drum mounting repair soon after left their crew facing a tough task to return to the front.
“For car number seven to win the race is fantastic for everyone,” said Buemi. “It was amazing for us to be on the podium with them.
“Even though it is a special moment, I am disappointed because I feel we could have done a bit better. But it was a great job from all the team to get our second win of the year with this car.
“We will remember this day for a long time because the competition was tough and we came out on top.”
This year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans was its 94th edition and it marked the third round of the WEC campaign.
Racing resumes at Interlagos in Brazil on July 12, and then the WEC will travel to Austin in the US for round five on September 6. The sixth round will then be held in Fuji, Japan on September 27, followed by Doha in Qatar on October 24.
The WEC will then bring the curtain down on the season in the kingdom with the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain, scheduled for November 6 and 7 at Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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