Toyota Wins Opening Round of 2026 WEC at Imola

Toyota’s #8 car, driven by Sébastien Buemi, won the opening round of the 2026 World Endurance Championship at Imola, finishing 13 seconds ahead of Ferrari AF Corse #51. It’s the #8’s first victory since the 2024 finale. Team WRT’s #69 took the LMGT3 class, with TF Sport’s Corvette second and a Porsche third.

Why it matters:

• The result gives Toyota an early lead in a 13‑race season, giving them momentum heading into the sprint‑heavy summer.
• Ferrari’s strong second place shows they can challenge Toyota’s dominance on a circuit that favors high‑downforce packages.
• WRT’s LMGT3 win underlines the class’s growing parity, as manufacturers test new Balance‑of‑Performance tweaks.

The details:

Overall (LMP2) top 3

• 1. #8 Toyota – Buemi, Hartley, Hirakawa (13 s to 2nd)
• 2. #51 Ferrari AF Corse – Pier Guidi, Calado, Giovinazzi
• 3. #7 Toyota – Conway, Kobayashi, De Vries

LMGT3 podium

• 1. #69 Team WRT – McIntosh, Thompson, Harper
• 2. #33 TF Sport – McDonald, Edgar, Catsburg
• 3. #92 Porsche – Shahin, Pera, Lietz

What's next:

The next round moves to Spa‑Francorchamps next month. Wet‑to‑dry conditions and the long Kemmel straight will test hybrid efficiency and tyre strategy. Toyota will aim to extend its lead, while Ferrari hopes to turn qualifying speed into a win. WRT looks to defend its LMGT3 crown.