Toyota Racing heads to Fuji Speedway on 27 September for round six of the FIA World Endurance Championship, looking to convert a narrow championship lead into victory on home ground. The Japanese team lost a near-certain win in Austin earlier this month when a technical issue struck with 11 minutes left, yet still stretched its manufacturers’ advantage to nine points. With three races left and both TR010 HYBRID crews within striking distance of the drivers’ title, Fuji is shaping up as a pivotal weekend.

Toyota Racing arrives at the 6 Hours of Fuji leading the manufacturers’ standings by nine points, but with unfinished business. At the previous round in Austin, the team was on course for victory before a technical problem intervened with just 11 minutes of the race remaining.

Both crews still in the title fight

Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries, who came closest to winning in Austin in the #7 TR010 HYBRID, are tied on points at the top of the drivers’ championship. In the sister #8 car, Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa recovered from their own problems in Texas to finish sixth, which leaves them 11 points off the lead with three rounds to go.

That makes the Japanese round the sixth of the season and one of the few remaining chances for either crew to take control of the standings.

A circuit with local significance

Fuji Speedway sits a short drive from the Higashi-Fuji Technical Center, where the TR010 HYBRID’s powertrain is designed, developed and built. Staff from the facility, along with other Toyota colleagues and team partners, traditionally attend the race in numbers.

The team’s record at the venue is strong: since its hybrid WEC programme began in 2012, it has won nine of the 12 races held there, including six one-two finishes. Adding a Fuji win to the Le Mans victory taken in June is the stated goal for the weekend.

High speed, then a tight final sector

The layout asks for compromise. Cars exceed 315 km/h (196 mph) along the 1.475 km (0.92-mile) start-finish straight, while the tight third sector demands aerodynamic and mechanical grip plus traction on corner exit. Engineers and drivers have put in simulator time at the team’s base in Cologne, Germany, to settle on set-ups.

“It’s an important race, not only for the World Championship, but because it’s our home race and the second most important of the season, after Le Mans,” said team principal and #7 driver Kamui Kobayashi. “Obviously, we want to fight for the win, particularly in front of all our TOYOTA colleagues, partners and fans.”

Buemi described the challenge from the #8 car’s perspective: “You have a mix of high-speed and low-speed corners, with the long, wide straight. Traffic is tricky, and it’s not easy on the tyres, so it’s a challenging circuit.” Hirakawa, who has raced at Fuji since his Formula Challenge Japan debut in 2010, called it his only race of the year in Japan.

Fan zone and displays

Away from the track, the team is running a fan zone that includes the 2026 Le Mans-winning #7 TR010 HYBRID, a 2025 GR010 HYBRID in its commemorative Le Mans livery and the 1998 TS020 that inspired that design. The GR GT sportscar and GR GT3 race car are also on display. A ‘Mechanic Experience’ area lets visitors attempt a tyre change on an actual Hypercar, alongside driver appearances, photo opportunities with the Le Mans trophy and merchandise sales.

What it means

With only three rounds left, a straightforward result at Fuji would do more for Toyota’s championship position than any single race so far this season — and after Austin, the team needs the points more than the symbolism of a home win.

Facts: Toyota Racing at the 6 Hours of Fuji

  • Event: Round six of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship
  • Cars: #7 and #8 TR010 HYBRID
  • #7 crew: Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, Nyck de Vries — tied for the drivers’ championship lead
  • #8 crew: Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Ryō Hirakawa — 11 points behind
  • Manufacturers’ standings: Toyota leads by nine points
  • Fuji record since 2012: nine wins from 12 races, including six one-twos
  • Top speed on the straight: over 315 km/h (196 mph) on a 1.475 km (0.92-mile) straight

Hypercar qualifying starts at 2.40pm local time (7.40am CEST) on Saturday 26 September, with the race getting under way at 11am local (4am CEST) on Sunday 27 September. Onboard camera streams will be available for both sessions via the team’s dedicated website.

Source: newsroom.toyota.eu