Toyota Gazoo Racing has secured the FIA World Endurance Championship Manufacturers' World Title with one round remaining after delivering a commanding 1-2 finish at the inaugural 6 Hours of Barcelona. The result seals Toyota's eighth manufacturers' championship in 14 WEC seasons following a thrilling race featuring mixed weather conditions and multiple safety car interruptions in Spain.
The victory was claimed by the No. 8 GR010 Hybrid driven by Sรฉbastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryล Hirakawa, who finished just 0.583 seconds ahead of their teammates in the No. 7 car, piloted by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries. The victory marked Buemi's 100th WEC start and represented the No. 8 crew's third win of the season and second consecutive triumph.
Mixed Conditions and Early Recovery
The race at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya began on a damp track, presenting immediate tactical challenges across the Hypercar field. Despite starting on the front row, the Toyota crew faced early obstacles, including a five-second time penalty served during their second pit stop for a start-procedure infringement.
Execution during pit stops and clever tire strategy enabled Toyota to overcome the delay. After transitioning from wet-weather tires to slicks on a drying track, Brendon Hartley overtook sister car driver Mike Conway to regain the lead, holding the advantage through a final safety car restart in the fourth hour.
- Race Winner: No. 8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid (Buemi / Hartley / Hirakawa)
- Runner-Up: No. 7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid (Conway / Kobayashi / De Vries)
- Third Place: No. 50 Ferrari AF Corse 499P (Fuoco / Molina / Nielsen)
- Winning Margin: 0.583 seconds between No. 8 and No. 7
Hypercar Title Secured
By securing both first and second positions, Toyota mathematically wrapped up the Hypercar Manufacturers' Championship ahead of the season finale at Monza. Ferrari AF Corse completed the podium with the No. 50 499P finishing third, around 39 seconds off the leader, effectively ending all rival title hopes.
| Position | Car No. | Team / Car | Drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | Toyota Gazoo Racing (GR010 Hybrid) | S. Buemi, B. Hartley, R. Hirakawa |
| 2 | 7 | Toyota Gazoo Racing (GR010 Hybrid) | M. Conway, K. Kobayashi, N. De Vries |
| 3 | 50 | Ferrari AF Corse (499P) | A. Fuoco, M. Molina, N. Nielsen |
| 4 | 38 | Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA (V-Series.R) | E. Bamber, S. Bourdais, J. Aitken |
What We Still Don't Know
While the manufacturers' crown has been claimed by Toyota, the Drivers' World Championship remains undecided heading into the final round. The No. 8 crew currently holds a 17-point lead over the No. 7 entry, setting up an intra-team battle for the drivers' title at the 6 Hours of Monza in Italy.
AkulRide Verdict
Toyota Gazoo Racing's performance at Barcelona highlights the team's operational discipline and strategic consistency in variable weather conditions. By wrapping up the Manufacturers' World Title a race early, Toyota reinforces its benchmark status in Hypercar endurance racing while setting up an exciting final intra-team showdown for the drivers' title.
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