Emotional season finale of the FIA WEC: Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA wins the 6 Hours of Monza, Toyota celebrates the driver world championship title and Manthey-Porsche prevails in the LMGT3 class.
With a much-applauded victory by Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship season came to an end on Sunday. At the season finale at the traditional Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Earl Bamber, Sébastien Bourdais and Jack Aitken took victory in the Cadillac V-Series.R with the starting number 38. For Cadillac, it was the first season victory and a successful conclusion to a varied world championship.
Victor Martins and Jules Gounon took second place in the Alpine A424 with the starting number 36. The podium was completed by Ferrari: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi moved up to third place in the Ferrari 499P with the starting number 51 after a time penalty imposed at a later stage against the initially third-placed Aston Martin.
Cadillac holds its nerve in the final stages
An intense battle for the lead developed early on. After an early change in leadership, Jack Aitken took the wheel in the Cadillac and maintained the lead for long stretches of the race. Several safety car phases and strategic challenges added to the tension.
Especially in the final phase, things got even tighter. Earl Bamber had to manage his fuel while the Alpine of Victor Martins and Jules Gounon got ever closer. Nevertheless, the Cadillac trio brought the lead to the finish and won with a 5.6 second lead. For Sébastien Bourdais, it was also an emotional farewell to Hertz Team JOTA.
Toyota champions despite difficult final
While Cadillac celebrated the one-day victory, Toyota Racing was able to celebrate the most important title of the weekend. Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa secured the 2026 Drivers’ World Championship in the Toyota TR010 Hybrid with the starting number 8.
However, the season finale was disappointing for Toyota. Both hypercars did not reach their usual competitive level and finished the race only in 11th and 12th place. However, the previously established lead in the points standings was enough to secure the title.
For Sébastien Buemi it is already the fifth drivers' world championship in the long-distance championship, for Brendon Hartley the fourth and for Ryo Hirakawa the third. Toyota had already secured the manufacturers' title in the season finale in Barcelona.
Ferrari benefits from Aston-Martin penalty
Ferrari also experienced a mixed home race. Despite the pole position for the Ferrari 499P with the starting number 50, the race was not without problems. Requirements regarding tire pressure and additional pit stops cost valuable time.
The best Ferrari was ultimately the No. 51 car driven by Pier Guidi, Calado and Giovinazzi. The trio benefited from a subsequent 20-second time penalty imposed on the Aston Martin Valkyrie with the starting number 007. Harry Tincknell and Tom Gamble had initially secured third place, but had to settle for fourth place after the race stewards’ decision.
Manthey-Porsche wins the LMGT3 class
In the LMGT3 category, Manthey secured a successful season finale. Richard Lietz, Riccardo Pera and Yasser Shahin won the class standings in the Porsche 911 GT3 R with the starting number 92 from The Bend Manthey. The trio worked their way up from 11th starting position and secured a well-deserved victory. For Richard Lietz, it was also his 100th WEC start.
Second place went to the Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3 of the Heart of Racing Team, while TF Sport secured third place with the Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R. Jonny Edgar secured the LMGT3 title for TF Sport.
Goodbye to Alpine from the hypercar category
The race was also of special significance for Alpine. The French brand ended its involvement in the FIA WEC’s Hypercar category with the season finale in Monza. With the second overall result for starting number 36, the team achieved a sportingly satisfying finish. The sister car with starting number 35 was disqualified after an accident involving Charles Milesi. Fortunately, the driver remained uninjured.
With the success of Cadillac, the driver’s world title for Toyota and the class victory of Manthey Porsche, the 2026 WEC season came to a varied conclusion. Monza once again delivered thrilling endurance racing with close duels, strategic decisions and emotional farewells.