Kamui Kobayashi believes Toyota’s commanding performance in the 2026 World Endurance Championship has silenced skeptics who questioned the manufacturer’s ability to prevail against a strengthened field of competitors.
After significantly upgrading its V6-powered LMH platform—now rebranded as the TR010 Hybrid—the Japanese manufacturer has re-established itself as the gold standard in the Hypercar class.
Following its first Le Mans 24 Hours victory since 2022 in June, Toyota secured the manufacturers’ championship in Barcelona with one race remaining. The battle for the drivers’ title is also set to be an internal affair, contested exclusively between Toyota’s two factory crews.
This resurgence follows a challenging period for the team; 2025 proved particularly difficult, characterized by operational errors and a lack of victories until the season finale in Bahrain.
These struggles led some analysts to suggest that Toyota’s previous successes were merely the result of a period with minimal factory opposition in endurance racing.
However, by triumphing against a dense field of 17 cars and eight different manufacturers, Toyota has demonstrated its ability to win in the most competitive era to date.
“We have struggled at Le Mans over the last few years, and many suggested that once the competitors returned to this championship, Toyota would no longer be strong enough,” team principal and driver Kamui Kobayashi stated during the Barcelona press conference.
“But this year, we won Le Mans and secured the manufacturers’ title again. The competition in this era is incredibly high; every team and manufacturer is performing at an amazing level.
“Everyone is trying to beat us, yet we continue to fight and deliver great results.
“I expect next year to be even more difficult with McLaren and Ford returning to the fray, which will raise the level of competition even further.
“We have one more race left this year, which will be a challenge, but we will do our best. I am hopeful that we will be back on top again next year.”
#8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota TR010: Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa
Photo by: JEP
Toyota has been a mainstay in the WEC since the championship’s inception, maintaining its presence even during the leaner years of the late 2010s and early 2020s.
While the brand dominated the initial years of the Hypercar era in 2021 and 2022, it faced stiffer resistance in 2023 as the category expanded. Although it missed out on the Le Mans and drivers’ titles for three consecutive years, it notably maintained its grip on the manufacturers’ championship throughout 2023 and 2024.
During a difficult 2025 campaign, Toyota frequently expressed concerns regarding the Balance of Performance (BoP) system used to regulate competitive parity.
In response, the team focused on developing an updated vehicle capable of maintaining high performance even under restrictive BoP regulations, such as increased ballast and reduced power outputs.
With the new TR010 Hybrid, Toyota has claimed four victories out of the seven WEC races held so far. The team was also poised for a win in Austin before a late hydraulic failure cost Kamui Kobayashi, Nyck de Vries, and Mike Conway the top step of the podium.
Kobayashi noted that Toyota has seen improvements across all departments this year, citing their tactical victory at Fuji as evidence of the team’s heightened operational sharpness.
“Looking back at this year, we have been very strong and consistent in every race.
“Even when we didn’t have the outright fastest car, we managed to score significant points. As a team, we have made a massive leap forward this year.
“The performance of the new TR010 Hybrid has been a major factor. We have worked incredibly hard and have become much more cohesive.
“One noticeable difference this year is the atmosphere; our team members seem much happier because we have a competitive car. That positive energy has directly contributed to our strong achievements this season.”