Toyota won the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours race on June 15 at Circuit de la Sarthe, ending Ferrari's three-year winning streak [1, 2]. The number 7 Toyota TR010, driven by Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway, and Nyck de Vries, took first place after completing 381 laps in largely dry, sunny conditions [1, 2]. The winning margin was approximately 11 seconds ahead of the second-place BMW M Hybrid V8 driven by Robin Frijns [1, 2].
Toyota also secured third place with another TR010 car, driven by Sebastien Buemi, maintaining strong dominance at the front [1, 2]. Mike Conway celebrated his second Le Mans win with Toyota, Nyck de Vries claimed his first, and Kamui Kobayashi added to his multiple victories [1, 2]. Kobayashi said, "Finally we bring in a new car and that's made it happen. Mr Toyoda-san has been supporting big time - finally we're back on top" [1]. He later added, "I need a beer," reflecting the relief after the intense race [2].
Ferrari’s entries, including the number 51 car driven by James Calado and the number 83 driven by Robert Kubica, finished well behind Toyota’s leading cars [1]. Toyota’s success was attributed in part to a minor upgrade and rebranding of their 2026 race car [1].
The race drew over 350,000 spectators, including an estimated 120,000 from the UK, showcasing its global appeal [2]. Ben Keating described the event as "the most competitive race I have ever seen" [2].
Toyota’s 2026 victory brings their all-time Le Mans wins to six, trailing Porsche’s 19 top-class wins [1]. The intense competition and close finish by the BMW team highlighted the race’s high level of performance and strategy [1, 2].
