Toyota approaches its 100th race with high expectations

The Japanese manufacturer has joined the WEC the very year the championship was created in its current form, in 2012. Upon arriving at 24 Hours of Le Mans, third round of the inaugural championship, Toyota Toyota has therefore only missed two races in the history of a category that celebrated its 100th round at Fuji. It is therefore not surprising to see the world's leading manufacturer celebrating this Imola round, as the season had to start several weeks later than planned due to the postponement of the Qatar round. A victory in Emilia-Romagna would mark Toyota's 50th win in 100 races.

The two TR010 Hybrids entered will sport a special logo celebrating this particular occasion. These two TR010s will have a significant task in 2026: to bring Toyota back to the top after a 2025 season well below its usual standards in the WEC. Only a victory at the Bahrain 8 Hours at the end of the season brightened a horizon that had become considerably bleak over the first seven rounds.

By using its joker, Toyota intends to resume its forward momentum, and this will involve a strong performance at the 6 Hours of Imola, which will open the season and in which several manufacturers, such as Cadillac or Alpinewill also arrive with modified aerodynamic packages. Team Principal of the team and driver of the No. 7, Kamui Kobayashi This demonstrates the high expectations that Toyota has for this season, with its new car.

“This year, our expectations are high. The previous car was fast but also had its limitations, so last season was a big challenge, especially as several of our competitors improved their performance. This means we've been eagerly awaiting the new version of the car for some time. Thanks to everyone on the team for their considerable efforts in preparing our new baby; I can't wait to see what we can achieve with it.”

On the sister car, number 8, Sébastien Buemi He also shared his expectations at the start of a new season in the WEC, having already been present at Le Mans in 2012 for Toyota's debut in the deep end of the World Championship.EnduranceA four-time World Endurance Champion, the Swiss driver also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans four times with the Japanese manufacturer.

“It’s incredible to be preparing for our 100th WEC race. It’s truly amazing to have been part of this journey since the very first race. I’m very proud to be part of this team, especially when I see how much stronger we’ve become over the years. We believe our TR010 Hybrid will help us fight at the front, and we’ve all worked very hard to optimize its performance. We’ll know on the track whether we’ve done a good job or not, but I’m optimistic. I can’t wait to finally get behind the wheel at Imola, where our goal is obviously to get on the podium for our 100th WEC race.”

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