Toyota has secured the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar Manufacturers’ title after its two TR010 Hybrid prototypes delivered a dominant one-two finish at the inaugural 6 Hours of Barcelona. The result, achieved on 18 October, gave Toyota its first one-two finish of the season and confirmed another championship for the Japanese manufacturer, which has now claimed the manufacturers’ crown eight times in 14 seasons. It also marks the fifth title in six seasons since the introduction of the current Hypercar era.
More than 55,000 fans watched the penultimate round unfold at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where a wet track greeted the field after two days of dry running. The changing conditions immediately caught several competitors off guard, setting the scene for a race in which Toyota ultimately proved the most consistent of the leading contenders.
It’s all about early control
The #8 Toyota, driven by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa, moved into the lead at the opening corner after pole André Lotterer lost ground. Lotterer’s #19 Genesis Magma Racing machine was subsequently caught out at Turn Five, dropping to the back of the Hypercar field.
Buemi capitalised on the opportunity, although his crew later received a five-second penalty for a starting procedure infringement. The setback did little to derail the car’s progress, and the championship-leading entry maintained control for much of the six-hour contest.
Toyota’s second entry, the #7 shared by Nyck de Vries, Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi, joined its sister car at the front during the second hour. De Vries passed Ferrari’s Miguel Molina to establish a Toyota one-two, allowing both prototypes to build a comfortable advantage over the chasing pack.
Subsequent stints from the respective driver line-ups kept Toyota firmly in command, with the two cars eventually crossing the finish line together to complete a convincing team performance. This victory follows a difficult 2025 campaign: Buemi, who made his 100th FIA WEC appearance at Barcelona, credited the team’s collective effort for its turnaround.
“It shows that by working hard together, we can come back very strongly,” Buemi said, congratulating the team on its achievement while noting that the Drivers’ Championship remained to be decided. Toyota team principal Kobayashi similarly highlighted the squad’s consistency throughout the season, explaining that the team had not always possessed the fastest car but had consistently converted its opportunities into valuable points.
One championship decided, another awaits
Toyota can now celebrate its latest manufacturers’ title, but the fight between its two crews will continue into the season finale. The 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship concludes with the 6 Hours of Monza in Italy on 6–8 November. With the manufacturers’ contest settled, the focus will shift to which Toyota crew can claim the Drivers’ Championship and complete the season on top.
For a team that needed to recover from a challenging previous campaign, Barcelona was a great way to mark that shift. Toyota has arrived at the final round with both of its cars in contention for the ultimate individual prize, and with the manufacturers’ crown already secured, the stage is set for an intra-team battle at Monza.
