Toyota is entering the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) with a comprehensively revised hypercar. The new TR010 Hybrid is intended to help the manufacturer return to the front of the field. The main technical changes have been made to the aerodynamics, while the driver line-up remains unchanged.
The WEC season opener is just around the corner: the championship kicks off in Imola from April 17 to 19. A total of 17 hypercars from eight manufacturers will compete against each other – including two vehicles from Toyota. The Japanese manufacturer has been part of the series since 2012. The model used so far, the GR010 Hybrid, is one of the longest-serving vehicles in the current field. However, the car was extensively revised during the winter break, with a particular focus on aerodynamics.
Visually, the most striking feature is the redesigned front end, including new headlights that give the vehicle a more modern appearance. The rear has also been modified: The wing has been redesigned and now features a striking bulge in the middle section. In addition, the red and white paintwork is reminiscent of the legendary Toyota TS020 from the year 1998.
In addition to the technical changes, the name has also been changed: The GR010 Hybrid will become the TR010 Hybrid for the 2026 season. The background to this is a restructuring of the team’s image – instead of Toyota Gazoo Racing, the team will now compete as Toyota Racing.
However, the driver line-up remains unchanged. Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries will continue to line up in the number 7 car. The sister car with the number 8 will once again be driven by Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa and Sébastien Buemi.
A special anniversary is also on the cards: The race in Imola marks Toyota’s 100th WEC start since the series was founded in 2012, during which time the team has celebrated 49 victories, including five wins at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Team boss and driver Kobayashi is optimistic: reaching 100 races is an important milestone. At the same time, expectations for the new season are high. Although the previous model had a lot of potential, it had also shown weaknesses – especially in comparison to the competition, which had recently made progress. The anticipation for the revised vehicle is correspondingly high.