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.
Quotes:
Kamui Kobayashi (Team Principal and driver, car #7): “We’re all looking forward to Le Mans, but more importantly we’re looking forward to fighting for victory at Le Mans. We have an updated car, the TR010 HYBRID, which has not yet driven at Le Mans, so we are excited to see our performance. The whole team has worked incredibly hard to be ready, but we know it is a big challenge. As our new slogan says, we are competing For the Engineering Race. This means that the full focus of our engineers and mechanics, as well as the drivers, is on executing a perfect race week. It will not be easy, but the target is clear: we are going to Le Mans to win.”
Mike Conway (Driver, car #7): “Le Mans is the race we always wait for, and we are all excited to be going back there. Hopefully we can fight at the front and have a chance of winning. We’ve had a pretty good start to the season, and we think the updated car is a step forward. We’ll see if that’s enough when we get to Le Mans. I can’t wait to be back on track there.”
Nyck de Vries (Driver, car #7): “Le Mans is always a special week, one that everyone is very much looking forward to. It’s a big race, arguably the most important of the season. It is coming quickly, actually faster this year than in other years because we only had two races before. I am very much looking forward to seeing what we can do. Hopefully we are in the mix, and we get a chance to fight for a historic moment. My team-mates have all won Le Mans at least once, so I am looking for my first.”
Sébastien Buemi (Driver, car #8): “Le Mans is the biggest race of the year, and it requires a lot of preparation and effort. It’s a magical event and an amazing week. I’m really looking forward to driving the TR010 HYBRID at Le Mans for the first time. We look forward to seeing what it can do on this track. Hopefully all the learnings over the last few months will allow us to extract the most out of the car.”
Brendon Hartley (Driver, car #8): “It’s great to head back to Le Mans with our new TR010 HYBRID challenger. It looks fast before it even turns a wheel on the track and we’ve all been very happy inside the car, so the hopes are high. We know we have big competition which we all respect. Clearly the aim is to try and win Le Mans again. We have been close in the last few years but have fallen short. We must focus on ourselves and put the best possible race together. I’m sure there are going to be some tight fights for the podium positions, and our goal is to be there at the end.”
Ryō Hirakawa (Driver, car #8): “We’re all excited for Le Mans, especially because we have the updated TR010 HYBRID and a new team identity. I think we have prepared very well over the winter, and we are in better shape than last year. Our competitors have also improved but we have some confidence going into Le Mans. For sure it’s going to be a close battle, but we are all ready and we will go for it.”
Click here to access the 2026 TOYOTA RACING WEC press kit. Click here to download rights-free video material of the TR010 HYBRID.
