TOYOTA RACING seeks to strengthen its bid for the World Endurance Championship (WEC) title with a home victory this Sunday at the Fuji 6 Hours. The team is ready to respond after coming very close to victory in the last race in Austin earlier this month, when a technical problem denied them the win with only 11 minutes remaining. Nevertheless, TOYOTA RACING extended its lead in the Constructors’ Championship to nine points ahead of the season’s sixth round.
Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi et Nyck de Vries, qui se trouvaient très proches de la victoire avec la voiture n° 7 (TR010 HYBRID), mènent actuellement le championnat des pilotes à égalité.
“We hope to count on the support of many Japanese fans and we are very excited to race at home. It’s a key event, not only for the World Championship but also because it’s our home race and the second most significant of the season, after Le Mans. Obviously, we want to fight for the victory, especially in front of all our colleagues, partners, and TOYOTA fans. It’s always a major objective for us at the start of each season, and we’ll give everything we have to achieve it,” says Kobayashi, who is both driver and team principal.
Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa overcame the setbacks in Austin to secure a hard-earned sixth place with the TR010 HYBRID 8, narrowing the gap to just 11 points with three races remaining.
“Fuji is an important race for us, and winning there is always one of our priorities. It’s an incredible week thanks to the support we receive and the various activities we carry out. Driving a Hypercar there is also fun, because there is a mix of high- and low-speed corners, as well as the long, wide straight. The traffic is tricky and the circuit demands a lot from the tires, so it’s a challenge,” Buemi says.
Winning at the Fuji Speedway is the team’s objective for this home round, staged at a venue of special significance. The Higashi-Fuji Technical Center — where the TR010 HYBRID’s powertrain is designed, developed, and manufactured — is a short drive from the circuit.
Every year, many members of the Higashi-Fuji crew, as well as colleagues from Toyota and partner teams, visit the Fuji Speedway to show their strong support. Since the start of their hybrid project in the WEC in 2012, the team has treated local fans with results to celebrate, accumulating nine wins in 12 races — including six one-two finishes.
“It’s a special week for us, because it’s a genuine home race. Naturally, we have many colleagues, friends, and support in Japan. It’s an opportunity to spend time with them and, who knows, to make them proud. I like the track; it’s fun to drive there and the location is fantastic. I’m excited for this race and we hope to leave Austin behind,” comments De Vries.
The Fuji Speedway is also a demanding circuit for cars and drivers. The main straight, 1.475 km long, where the cars exceed 315 km/h, contrasts with the third sector, which is tight and demands aerodynamic and mechanical grip, as well as solid traction out of the corners. To optimize the setups, engineers and drivers worked hard on the driving simulator at the team’s headquarters in Cologne, Germany.
“I have developed as a racing driver at Fuji. I’ve raced there since my first year in the Japanese Formula Challenge in 2010, so I know the track well and I really enjoy it. It’s a very important event for us and for me personally. It’s my only race of the year in Japan, and it’s very special to compete in front of Japanese fans. I’m very excited and looking forward to it,” says Hirakawa.
Beyond the on-track action, there are numerous activities offered to visitors in the Fan Zone, including vehicle exhibitions and interactive attractions. In the “Mechanic Experience” area, guests can feel the pressure and excitement of a WEC pit stop by taking part in a tire-change challenge on a real Hypercar. Other highlights include opportunities for photos with the Le Mans-winning trophy, appearances by drivers, and the sale of official merchandise, allowing fans to enjoy their time at the circuit even outside track sessions. TOYOTA Racing also has an official site for more information: https://toyota-racing.com/jp/fuji-special-2026/
Live onboard camera feeds will also be available on the site during qualifying and the race. Hypercar class qualifying starts at 2:40 a.m. on Saturday (26), while the race begins at 11:00 p.m. on the same day (Brasília time).
