WEC: TOYOTA SENDS A STRONG SIGNAL AT THE 6 HOURS OF IMOLA
- Cavalieri Garage Magazine
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Ryo Hirakawa, Brendon Hartley, and Sébastien Buemi kick off the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship season in the most effective way possible, bringing Toyota to a symbolic milestone: 50 wins in 100 races entered. The Japanese manufacturer, already victorious in Emilia-Romagna in 2024, returned to Imola with the new TR010 and immediately hit the mark, beating the #51 Ferrari of Antonio Giovinazzi, Alessandro Pier Guidi, and James Calado.
The 6 Hours of Imola unfolded under the constant threat of rain, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already highly strategic race. In this context, the second Toyota also played a key role in putting pressure on the leading Ferrari. A decisive moment came after the fifth pit stop, when Kamui Kobayashi, in the #7, managed to surprise Giovinazzi by staying out without changing tires, gaining track position.
By contrast, the #51 Ferrari and the #8 Toyota followed similar strategies, opting for a more conservative approach that allowed Sébastien Buemi to gradually manage the gap over both the sister car and the chasing Ferrari. From that point on, the race became more about control than outright attack.
The final round of pit stops partially reshuffled the order: the tire change on the #7 Toyota allowed Giovinazzi to reclaim second place. However, the gap built by the #8 proved unassailable. Ferrari attempted to close in, but never truly managed to threaten Toyota’s lead.
The result was a debut victory for the new TR010, finishing ahead of the #51 Ferrari, which had to settle for second place. Completing the podium was the other Toyota, the #7 driven by Kobayashi, De Vries, and Conway, confirming a remarkably strong team performance. Toyota wasn’t just fast—it was precise, consistent, and flawless when it mattered most.
Behind the top three, fourth place went to the #35 Alpine, followed by the #20 BMW and the #50 Ferrari, heavily penalized for an infraction under yellow flag conditions. A mistake that compromised what could have been a podium-contending race, dropping it out of the top positions. The top ten was completed by the #15 BMW, #38 Cadillac, #007 Aston Martin, and the #83 AF Corse Ferrari.
In the GT class, a commanding win for the #69 BMW M4 GT3 EVO of McIntosh, Thompson, and Harper, repeating their 2024 success. They finished ahead of the #33 TF Sport Corvette and the #92 Manthey Porsche. A victory built on consistency and clean execution, true to the essence of endurance racing.
Major disappointment for the #10 Garage 59 McLaren: a technical issue prevented Marvin Kirchhöfer from securing what looked like a potential debut win for the team in the series. A missed opportunity that leaves more than a few regrets.
Just off the podium was the #91 Manthey Porsche, followed by the #32 WRT BMW and the #21 VISTA AF Corse Ferrari. The latter saw a potential podium slip away due to an extra stop late in the race, compromising the result of the 296 GT3 EVO driven by Heriau, Mann, and Rovera.
The next round is scheduled for the second weekend of May at Spa-Francorchamps. Meanwhile, Imola delivered a strong response: over 92,000 fans filled the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, once again confirming the deep connection between Italian fans and endurance racing.
© Cavalieri Garage & Co.
