Toyota returned to the pinnacle of endurance racing after producing a near-flawless performance to win the 94th edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours on Sunday. The Japanese manufacturer claimed its sixth overall victory in the legendary race, ending a four-year wait by defeating BMW and Cadillac in one of the closest finishes of recent years.
The winning No. 7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid, driven by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries, completed 381 laps before Kobayashi took the chequered flag. Toyota finished 10.913 seconds ahead of the No. 20 BMW, while the sister No. 8 Toyota completed the podium in third after another consistent drive.
The race was anything but straightforward for Toyota. BMW began the event from pole position, while Cadillac controlled much of the race and even occupied the top two positions entering the later stages. However, mechanical setbacks proved costly for Cadillac, and Toyota capitalised with a well-executed strategy, clean pit stops and remarkable consistency over the full 24 hours.
For Kamui Kobayashi, the victory marked his second Le Mans title, having previously won in 2021. Mike Conway also celebrated his second overall triumph, while former Formula One driver Nyck de Vries secured his maiden Le Mans victory. Their success also ended Ferrari’s run of three consecutive victories at the iconic French circuit.
Toyota’s achievement was made even more impressive considering both of its Hypercars started well down the grid. Through smart tyre management, reliable pace and disciplined execution, the team steadily climbed the order before taking control when it mattered most.
Top Five Overall Finishers
1. Toyota No. 7 (Mike Conway / Kamui Kobayashi / Nyck de Vries) – 381 laps
2. BMW No. 20 (Robin Frijns / René Rast / Sheldon van der Linde) – +10.913 sec
3. Toyota No. 8 (Sébastien Buemi / Brendon Hartley / Ryō Hirakawa)
4. Cadillac No. 12
5. Ferrari No. 51
The 2026 edition featured 62 cars and 186 drivers, producing intense competition throughout the day and night. In the LMP2 class, Inter Europol secured a memorable one-two finish, while Corvette emerged victorious in the LMGT3 category.
With this triumph, Toyota reaffirmed its reputation as one of endurance racing’s most successful manufacturers. After four seasons without lifting the famous Le Mans trophy, the Japanese giant once again proved that consistency, reliability and teamwork remain the ultimate ingredients for success in motorsport’s greatest endurance race.
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