Toyota Racing secured victory at the 6 Hours of Fuji with drivers Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryō Hirakawa in the No. 8 TR010 HYBRID. The result marks the tenth win for the manufacturer at the Fuji Speedway circuit. The victory also increased the team’s lead in the FIA World Endurance Championship manufacturers’ standings to 23 points.
Overcoming Early Race Challenges
The race began on a damp track following the cancellation of qualifying sessions due to adverse weather conditions. Starting from eighth position on the grid, Buemi advanced two positions during the opening stint. As conditions shifted across the track, the crew managed to work the hybrid vehicle into the top six during the first half of the six-hour endurance event.
During the fifth hour, Hartley faced a setback after being pushed into a spin on the track. Hirakawa took over driving duties in sixth place with the team positioned outside podium contention as the final hour approached. A total of 72,326 spectators attended the racing weekend at the Japanese venue.
Decisive Strategy Secures Win for Toyota Racing
A safety car period deployed with 55 minutes remaining created an opportunity for a strategic pit stop. Anticipating track barrier repairs, the team refuelled the hybrid car without changing tyres. This pit strategy allowed Hirakawa to assume the race lead once competition resumed with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Despite rainfall in the final laps, Hirakawa maintained the lead and crossed the finish line 0.591 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor. The victory sealed a hard-fought result for automotive engineering under changing track conditions, completing 203 laps in total.
Championship Standings and Season Outlook
The win moves the No. 8 crew to the top of the drivers’ championship standings. Meanwhile, the No. 7 sister car driven by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries occupies second place in the standings, trailing by 10 points with two rounds remaining in the 2026 season.
“This was not a victory earned through speed alone. It was a victory earned through human effort.”
Hiroki Nakajima, Executive Vice President
Engineering Heritage and Future Rounds
The manufacturer maintains more than 60 years of participation in motorsport competitions worldwide. Endurance racing serves as a technical testing ground to develop high-performance vehicle components under demanding environments, reinforcing wider business and manufacturing objectives.
The penultimate round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship schedule is the inaugural 6 Hours of Barcelona, set to take place on 18 October at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
