Le Mans 24 Hours: Preview.
TOYOTA RACING will challenge for its sixth victory – and fulfilment of its new For the Engineering Race slogan – in the Le Mans 24 Hours on 13-14 June with the TR010 HYBRID Hypercar.
Over 300,000 fans are expected at the Circuit de la Sarthe to watch a 62-car grid – including 18 Hypercars from eight different manufacturers – compete for honours in the 94th edition of the legendary race, round three of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
As five-time winners and holders of the fastest-ever lap of the French circuit, TOYOTA RACING has high targets for the 2026 edition, Toyota’s 28th entry at Le Mans. Those hopes will be carried by two TR010 HYBRID race cars: the #7 of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries, and the #8 of Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa.
Competing under its new slogan For the Engineering Race, TOYOTA RACING will express its commitment to technical development through motorsports prototype competition, based on engineering excellence and strong teamwork. For the Engineering Race epitomises a single-minded pursuit of technical mastery through relentless refinement, uncompromised by external distractions.
Le Mans represents the ultimate engineering challenge in WEC, with cars and drivers racing flat-out around the clock, supported by pit crews and engineers, all knowing that the smallest mistake can make the difference. The high-speed 13.626km Circuit de la Sarthe is unique in WEC. Not only is it the longest circuit, but it is also the only one which includes sections of public road, used throughout the year by everyday traffic. The combination of very long straights, heavy braking for tight chicanes and high-speed corners pushes car and driver to their limit, particularly in night-time conditions.
The TR010 HYBRID has been engineered to take on that challenge. As well as a dynamic new look for 2026, aerodynamic adjustments will help drivers race at their maximum in all circumstances. The beating heart of the TR010 HYBRID is its hybrid powertrain, created at TOYOTA’s Higashi-Fuji technical centre. This includes a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, running on 100% renewable racing fuel and capable of more than 700 PS.
In its very first race, at Imola in April, the #8 TR010 HYBRID took victory, with the #7 crew on the podium for third. The last race at Spa-Francorchamps in May was more challenging yet nevertheless saw both cars fight for the podium before finishing in the points, strengthening TOYOTA RACING’s World Championship challenge.
The team’s Le Mans challenge begins with a test day on Sunday 7 June, the only opportunity to drive on the circuit prior to race week. Official sessions begin on Wednesday 10 June with free practice and qualifying, where Hypercars compete for 15 places in Hyperpole. Pole position and the leading grid places are determined in two Hyperpole sessions on Thursday evening, either side of further free practice sessions. The race begins at 4pm local time on Saturday 13 June.
Fans can enjoy the excitement and exhilaration of Le Mans from anywhere in the world via TOYOTA RACING’s dedicated Le Mans 24 Hours website (www.toyota-racing.com/le-mans-special-2026), which features live onboard cameras and other content.
