The drivers for Toyota Racing have lauded the efforts of the Japanese constructor in restoring its momentum in the FIA World Endurance Championship this season, sealing the manufacturers’ crown one race early with a commanding 1-2 in Barcelona.
The No. 8 crew of Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa topped the order for both TR010 Hybrids in a controlled one-two, ahead of the sister No. 7 car driven by Kamui Kobayashi, Nyck de Vries and Mike Conway, as the outfit dominated the race.
With BMW, the nearest challenger in the standings, enduring a difficult afternoon, the result effectively removed any possibility of catching the prize with one race remaining, leaving Monza’s season finale next month as a mere formality, while also ensuring one of the Toyotas would claim the drivers’ championship.
Toyota’s form in 2026, powered by an upgraded machine that has secured four victories from seven rounds including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, stands in stark contrast to a testing 2025 campaign that yielded just a single win at Bahrain in the final round.
Both Buemi and Hartley were quick to acknowledge the Cologne-based squad’s tireless work in reclaiming the top spot.
“It was hard to know if we would be quick, since we hadn’t run in wet conditions all weekend until the opening lap,” Buemi noted, after receiving a five-second penalty at the race start for a start infraction.
“I managed to avoid incidents at Turn 1 and Turn 5, while the Genesis drivers attempted late braking, so I’m pleased I kept the car on track and we showed strong pace.”
“The safety car compressed the gap we had, and we lost some time during one of the full-course yellows, so it was a bit tricky, and I’m still upset with myself for the penalty.”
“It’s incredible to see the team rebound after such a tough previous season. Congratulations to everyone for an amazing year, and with one race left, the strongest crew will lift the championship.”
Hartley took over from Buemi for the middle stint and managed to pass Conway to reclaim the lead after the No. 8 car briefly fell behind.
“We didn’t test here, so we came in worried about a potential disadvantage, and in FP1 we didn’t look particularly strong,” recalled the Kiwi driver. “We were somehow surprised to end up with such a dominant performance.”
“A lot of that came down to tire wear—the track is very harsh on tires, and historically that has been one of our strengths.”
“Of course we keep one eye on the drivers’ championship, but today’s focus was on the team.”
“It’s a massive turnaround from last year. We had plenty of tough moments, some good ones too, but to witness such a transformation, I’m incredibly proud of everyone and it’s fantastic to be part of this project.”
Hirakawa, who steered the closing phase as he did during the No. 8 squad’s other triumphs this season at Imola and Fuji, admitted nerves given the weekend had largely revolved around preparing the car for qualifying.
“I was fully focused on qualifying in every free practice, so I didn’t feel fully prepared for the race,” Hirakawa admitted. “Now I can say I was pretty tense about the race because I realized I hadn’t done much preparation.”
“Nevertheless, all the engineers helped me before I got in, and I felt confident—the pace looked strong. I did what I could, and the car was flying.”
“The main challenge was sporadic rain, so I kept glancing at the sky hoping for dry weather; apart from that, everything stayed under control.”
Team principal Kobayashi, part of the No. 7 crew that finished second, highlighted not only the arrival of the TR010 but also the broader branding shift for the 2026 season from Toyota Gazoo Racing to Toyota Racing.
“This year we have been exceptionally strong in every race and consistently so,” he said. “We didn’t always possess the fastest car, but we collected solid points, and as a team we have taken a meaningful step forward.”
“We introduced the TR010, and we also moved from Gazoo Racing to Toyota Racing this year, resulting in a new organizational setup. Somehow the entire crew has smiled more this year because we have a competitive car.”
“Now we can enjoy the final race at Monza and see who takes the drivers’ title. There won’t be any team orders; we’ll contest the race fiercely and determine who travels to Shanghai for the FIA Gala in December.”
