Toyota Racing secured its eighth World Endurance Championship manufacturers’ title after its #8 TR010 Hybrid led a one-two finish at the 6 Hours of Barcelona. Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa beat their teammates in the #7 Toyota by just 0.583 seconds after six hours of racing that began on a wet circuit and developed into a dry-track contest. The result settled the manufacturers’ championship with one round remaining, but left Toyota facing an internal fight for the drivers’ crown at Monza in November.

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Toyota Makes the Most of Changing Conditions

Genesis Magma Racing started strongly after qualifying, but its challenge faded. Dani Juncadella ran wide into the gravel at Turn 5 in the #19 Genesis, surrendering the lead and allowing Buemi to move ahead. The sister #17 car also slipped down the order as Toyota found its rhythm. The #7 Toyota had started ninth, yet Nyck de Vries worked through the field and brought it into second place. The #8 received a five-second start-procedure penalty, but it did not decide the race. Hartley regained control after the team switched to slick tyres as the track dried, and the Toyotas managed the closing stages without surrendering their advantage.

Ferrari’s #50 499P, driven by Miguel Molina, Antonio Fuoco and Nicklas Nielsen, took third, 39.725 seconds behind the winner. Hertz Team JOTA’s #38 Cadillac finished fourth, ahead of the #83 AF Corse Ferrari. Genesis ended the race 11th and 16th, while BMW’s #20 car lost ground after a tyre-pressure infringement and a 20-second penalty. Formula 1 is a different championship, but Toyota’s result offers motorsport fans a reminder that endurance racing rewards strategy as much as speed.

Manthey Porsche Breaks Through in LMGT3

Yasser Shahin, Riccardo Pera and Richard Lietz took the #92 Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo to its first class win of the 2026 season. Garage 59’s #10 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo recovered from a setback and a puncture to finish second. Marvin Kirchhöfer made a late pass on Dan Harper’s #69 WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO, securing the McLaren’s place ahead of the BMW. Racing Team Turkey’s #34 Corvette completed the top four. The championship-leading #33 TF Sport Corvette finished seventh after a delayed tyre change and a subsequent penalty. Jonny Edgar, Ben Keating and Nicky Catsburg head the LMGT3 standings, holding an 18-point advantage over Manthey before the finale.

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Monza to Decide the Drivers’ Titles

Toyota can celebrate the manufacturers’ crown, yet the drivers’ championship remains unresolved. The #8 crew leads its sister car by 17 points, leaving both Toyota line-ups with a chance of taking the title at Monza on 8 November. The final round will also decide LMGT3 honours. TF Sport remains in front, but Manthey’s Barcelona win has given the Porsche crew fresh momentum. For Toyota, the job in Barcelona is done; the next challenge is turning a team triumph into an individual championship.

Editor - Neha

Neha is the Co-Director & Editor at sportselite.in, drawn to the stories that give Sports their energy beyond the scoreboard. She brings clarity, context, and a human perspective to coverage across Elite Sports, from standout performances to shifting team dynamics and memorable contests. At sportselite.in, Neha helps turn complex sporting developments into engaging stories, keeping readers connected to the people and moments behind the action.

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