Toyota, the most successful manufacturer in the history of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), is enduring a tough 2025 season. With little to celebrate, Toyota has focused its efforts on regaining its previous dominance by preparing significant updates for the 2026 WEC season.
The best result for Toyota’s TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GR010 Hybrid prototype in the 2025 season came during the 6 Hours of Fuji, where the team finished a distant seventh. Fuji has traditionally been a stronghold for Toyota, with the team securing nine victories from the 12 races since the WEC’s inception. However, the 2025 season has seen an unprecedented streak, as Toyota has now failed to reach the podium in seven consecutive rounds.
With the Bahrain season finale just around the corner, Toyota’s #7 entry—driven by Kamui Kobayashi, Nyck de Vries, and Mike Conway—sits in a disappointing seventh place in the championship standings. The #8 car, piloted by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryō Hirakawa, is even further behind in 13th. In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Toyota, a seven-time title winner, currently holds fourth place, trailing Ferrari by nearly 100 points.
Preparing for 2026: The GR010 Hybrid Evo
The Toyota GR010 Hybrid, which first entered the WEC in 2021, is now approaching its sixth season of competition. With newer, more competitive cars from manufacturers like Ferrari, Porsche, and Cadillac joining the grid, Toyota has recognised that significant changes are necessary to remain at the front of the pack.
In response, Toyota has planned to introduce one of its ‘Evo Jokers’—a raft of aerodynamic upgrades designed to revitalise the GR010 Hybrid. These updates aim to address the car’s performance weaknesses and enable the team to better compete with its rivals in 2026.
Toyota introduces aero upgrades to enhance performance in 2026 WEC campaign
The updates to the GR010 Hybrid will focus heavily on aerodynamic improvements. According to a team spokesperson, the car’s front and rear bodywork will be adjusted to provide a more modern look, in line with Toyota’s latest road car design language.
“We will introduce an update to our car for next season,” the spokesperson confirmed. “Its appearance has been adjusted by updating the front and rear bodywork. This is intended to align better with Toyota’s latest road car design language and create a more modern look. These changes also influence airflow, and we have made the modifications whilst aiming for consistent aerodynamic performance across all circuits and conditions.”
Toyota will begin testing these changes later this month, as they look to fine-tune the performance of the GR010 Hybrid ahead of next season.
With these significant updates, Toyota is clearly hoping to reclaim its former glory and once again challenge for top honours in the FIA WEC. The team will be looking to bounce back from a challenging 2025 and end the season on a high note at Bahrain. However, all eyes are on 2026, when Toyota hopes its new aerodynamic developments will allow it to reassert its dominance in the top-tier Hypercar category.
