Imola Hosts Toyota’s Historic FIA WEC Win
The 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) commenced at Imola, where Toyota secured a landmark victory in their 100th WEC race. The #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid clinched its 50th overall win, marking a triumphant return to the factory branding of Toyota Racing after operating as Toyota Gazoo Racing for the past decade.
This victory builds on Toyota’s momentum, following a win in the 2025 season finale at Bahrain. Sebastien Buemi extended his record for the most overall FIA WEC wins to 27, while teammates Brendon Hartley and Rio Hirakawa added their respective 24th and 7th wins.
Remembering Juha Miettinen
Amidst the celebrations, the race also served as a tribute to Juha Miettinen, a renowned NLS racer who tragically lost his life during the N24 Qualifying race. All Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8 hypercars wore black ribbons in his honor, a sentiment echoed by the WEC TV crew during the formation laps.
BMW Returns to Victory Lane
In LMGT3, the #69 BMW M4 GT3 Evo achieved its first victory since 2024, driven by Tony McIntosh, Parker Thompson, and BMW factory driver Dan Harper. Team Principal Vincent Vosse expressed his delight, noting the significance of the win and acknowledging the strong start for their Hypercar entries.
Challenging Debut for Logan Sargeant
Logan Sargeant faced challenges in his FIA WEC debut with the #88 Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3 Evo, finishing 8th in class after experiencing issues with the car’s air conditioning, which required medical assistance post-race.
Statistical Highlights
The race attracted a record attendance of 92,175 spectators—17,000 more than in 2024—underscoring the growing popularity of the series.
The Legends of Le Mans series entertained fans with an exhilarating morning race, featuring fiercely competitive vehicles such as the Lola Aston Martin and the Peugeot 908. Notably, Francois Perrodo scored back-to-back wins in LMP2.
As the season progresses, the next WEC event is set for Spa, with teams eager to build on their early performances.
