WEC Barcelona: Toyota one-two and 2026 manufacturers' title
The newsroomUpdated on October 18, 20263 minMartin Lee from London, UK · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Toyota scores a one-two at the 6 Hours of Barcelona and clinches the WEC manufacturers' title with a round to spare. The drivers' crown will be decided at Monza.
Key point
Toyota wins the 6 Hours of Barcelona with a one-two, clinches the manufacturers' title with a round to spare and leaves the #8 and #7 crews to fight for the drivers' crown at Monza.
Toyota dominated the 6 Hours of Barcelona, the penultimate round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). The #8 Toyota won ahead of its sister car, and the Japanese manufacturer is Hypercar world champion with a round to spare.
A Toyota one-two, inside a second
The #8 Toyota, driven by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa, took the win, the crew's third of the season. The #7 of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries was second, 0.583 s behind after 198 laps.
The #50 Ferrari of Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen and Antonio Fuoco completed the podium, more than 39 s back. The #38 Cadillac of Sébastien Bourdais, Jack Aitken and Earl Bamber was fourth, ahead of the #83 Ferrari of Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson.
A wild start, and trouble for Genesis
Genesis took a historic pole, the marque's first in the WEC, but its race fell apart: the #17 crew of Mathys Jaubert, André Lotterer and Pipo Derani finished outside the points after a drive-through for a full-course-yellow infringement. Daniel Juncadella's #19 was eleventh.
From the start Buemi took the lead from the pole-sitting #17, after Juncadella ran off the track at Turn 5. There were two safety car periods, one after Harry Tincknell's Aston Martin stopped in the gravel. Several penalties also shaped the order.
BMW out of the title fight
At BMW, the #15 of Dries Vanthoor, Raffaele Marciello and Kevin Magnussen was seventh, with a 10-second penalty for a collision with the #38 Cadillac. The #20 finished 14th, outside the points, after a 20-second penalty for low tyre pressures: its mathematical chance of the drivers' title is over.
What is still to play for
- Manufacturers' title: Toyota is champion.
- Hypercar drivers' title: the #8 crew leads the #7 by 17 points, the only two still in contention. The answer comes at Monza on 7 and 8 November.
- LMGT3: Manthey's #92 Porsche of Yasser Shahin, Riccardo Pera and Richard Lietz won. Jonny Edgar (#33 Corvette) leads the standings by 18 points, with 26 points still available.
The editorial team is following the WEC through to the Monza finale.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 6 Hours of Barcelona in the WEC?
The #8 Toyota of Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa, ahead of the #7 Toyota of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries.
Is Toyota the 2026 WEC world champion?
In the manufacturers' standings, yes: Toyota sealed the title at Barcelona with a round to spare. The drivers' title remains open between the #8 and #7 crews.
When will the Hypercar drivers' title be decided?
In the season finale at Monza on 7 and 8 November. The #8 crew leads the #7 by 17 points.
Sources
- Motorsport Week — WEC 6 Hours of Barcelona: race results
- Autosport — WEC Barcelona: Toyota scores dominant 1-2 to clinch manufacturers' title
- La DH — WEC: Toyota wins comfortably in Barcelona
Written by the Karrazmotorsport newsroom, proofread before publication. For settings, always refer to your vehicle's manual. Our charter.
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