Mathys Jaubert secured Genesis Magma Racing’s maiden FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) pole position during Saturday’s Hypercar qualifying for the 2026 6 Hours of Barcelona. The 21-year-old Frenchman recorded a 1:30.166 in the #17 Genesis GMR-001, beating championship leader Ryō Hirakawa by 0.170 seconds and becoming the youngest outright pole-sitter in FIA WEC history.
Genesis completed an impressive qualifying performance with Mathieu Jaminet securing third in the sister #19 Hypercar, giving the Korean manufacturer two positions among the leading three. Charles Milesi followed in fourth for Alpine Endurance Team, while Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA completed the top five through Will Stevens.
However, the session also produced several unexpected results. Ferrari struggled to replicate its practice pace, with reigning champion Antonio Giovinazzi failing to reach Hyperpole in the #51 Ferrari 499P. Meanwhile, neither Aston Martin nor BMW advanced beyond the opening qualifying segment, leaving several championship contenders facing difficult starting positions for Sunday’s six-hour race.
Qualifying delayed as officials repair Barcelona circuit
The opening Hypercar qualifying session began 15 minutes later than scheduled after officials undertook repairs to the circuit at the final corner. The delay followed the revised Barcelona weekend programme, which gave both Hypercar and LMGT3 competitors separate final practice sessions before their respective qualifying and Hyperpole sessions.
Unlike Friday’s combined practice running, Saturday’s schedule allowed the 17 Hypercars to complete their final preparations without navigating the slower LMGT3 field. Earlier in the afternoon, Antonio Fuoco had topped Hypercar FP3 for Ferrari AF Corse with a 1:31.026, narrowly beating Genesis Magma Racing’s Dani Juncadella by 0.015 seconds.
However, qualifying presented different track conditions and considerably faster lap times. With only the ten quickest drivers advancing to Hyperpole, competitors faced immediate pressure to deliver competitive laps during the opening segment.
Jaminet puts Genesis at the front despite technical interruption
Genesis Magma Racing immediately demonstrated its potential when Jaminet topped the opening qualifying session in the #19 GMR-001. The Frenchman recorded a 1:30.479, securing the fastest lap of the segment and establishing the Korean manufacturer’s position among the leading contenders.
However, Jaminet’s session did not begin smoothly. His Genesis briefly stopped after leaving the pit lane following a loss of power, interrupting his initial qualifying preparations. Nevertheless, he recovered and subsequently delivered the fastest lap of the session, demonstrating the team’s competitiveness despite the setback.
Jaminet shares the #19 Genesis with Paul-Loup Chatin and Barcelona-born Dani Juncadella, who had already demonstrated strong pace during Saturday’s final practice session. Their qualifying performance continued an encouraging weekend for the manufacturer, which has made considerable progress during its debut FIA WEC campaign.
Meanwhile, Jaubert secured third during the opening segment in the sister #17 Genesis, ensuring both entries advanced into the ten-car Hyperpole shootout. The 21-year-old shares the Hypercar with André Lotterer and Pipo Derani, giving the manufacturer two opportunities to challenge for its first pole position.
The result represented an important achievement for Genesis, which had previously demonstrated competitive single-lap pace without securing an outright pole. With both entries safely through, the Korean manufacturer entered Hyperpole as one of the strongest challengers.
Toyota advances both Hypercars as title battle intensifies
Toyota Racing also progressed into Hyperpole with both TR010 Hybrid entries, keeping its championship-leading crews in contention for the leading starting positions.
The #8 Toyota of Hirakawa, Sébastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley entered Barcelona leading the Hypercar Drivers’ Championship following its dramatic victory at Fuji. The trio holds a ten-point advantage over the sister #7 crew of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries, making the penultimate round particularly important for Toyota’s championship ambitions.
Furthermore, Toyota leads the Manufacturers’ Championship by 23 points over BMW. Consequently, the Japanese manufacturer arrived at Barcelona with opportunities to strengthen both championship advantages before the final round at Monza.
Although Toyota had finished outside the leading ten during Saturday’s FP3 session, its qualifying performance demonstrated improved competitiveness. Both crews secured places in Hyperpole, giving the team an opportunity to challenge Genesis, Ferrari and Cadillac for the front positions.
The result also contrasted with BMW’s difficult qualifying performance, which eliminated both of its Hypercars before the final shootout. Toyota therefore entered Hyperpole with a significant advantage over its closest Manufacturers’ Championship rival.
Aston Martin suffers double elimination
Aston Martin THOR Team experienced one of the most disappointing outcomes of the opening qualifying session, as neither Valkyrie advanced into Hyperpole.
Alex Riberas recorded a 1:31.443 in the #009 Aston Martin, finishing 11th overall and missing the final qualifying segment by just 0.032 seconds. The Spaniard shares the car with Marco Sørensen, with the duo having demonstrated encouraging pace throughout the weekend.
The result proved particularly frustrating after the #009 had finished second during FP1 and fourth during FP3. Although the crew remained close to the Hyperpole cut-off, Riberas could not find the additional performance necessary to secure a leading-ten position.
Meanwhile, Harry Tincknell finished 12th in the sister #007 Valkyrie with a 1:31.464, just 0.021 seconds behind Riberas. The British driver shares the car with Tom Gamble and had previously topped Friday afternoon’s FP2 session.
However, the team’s earlier pace did not translate into a Hyperpole appearance. Both Aston Martins will therefore begin Sunday’s six-hour race from outside the leading ten, leaving the crews with work to do as they attempt to recover positions.
Defending champion Ferrari also misses Hyperpole
Ferrari experienced another significant setback when Giovinazzi failed to advance in the #51 Ferrari 499P. The Italian recorded a 1:31.508, securing only 13th overall and leaving the reigning championship-winning crew outside the Hyperpole field.
Giovinazzi shares the #51 Ferrari with Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado, who have struggled to maintain their earlier championship momentum throughout the second half of 2026.
Although Ferrari had demonstrated competitive pace during practice, Giovinazzi could not translate that performance into a leading-ten result. Officials also deleted one of his qualifying laps for exceeding track limits, although that lap would not have secured his progression into Hyperpole.
The result represented a frustrating outcome for the defending champions, particularly as the championship approaches its conclusion. Ferrari entered Barcelona mathematically involved in the Manufacturers’ Championship, but its remaining opportunities to challenge Toyota depend on securing strong results during the final two races.
Nevertheless, the manufacturer retained two Hyperpole contenders. Fuoco advanced in the #50 factory Ferrari, while Robert Kubica progressed in the customer #83 AF Corse entry, leaving Ferrari with opportunities to challenge for a competitive starting position.
BMW and Peugeot fail to progress
BMW M Team WRT also endured a difficult qualifying session, with neither M Hybrid V8 advancing into Hyperpole.
Sheldon van der Linde finished 14th overall in the #20 BMW, recording a 1:31.571. The South African shares the car with Robin Frijns and René Rast, who remain among Toyota’s closest challengers in the Drivers’ Championship.
However, their qualifying result placed the crew behind both Toyotas and the leading Genesis, Alpine, Ferrari and Cadillac entries. With Rast and Frijns entering Barcelona 14 points behind the championship-leading #8 Toyota crew, the result could complicate their efforts to reduce that deficit during Sunday’s race.
Meanwhile, Kevin Magnussen qualified 16th in the sister #15 BMW, recording a 1:31.650. The Danish driver shares the car with Raffaele Marciello and Dries Vanthoor, leaving both BMW entries outside the leading 13 positions.
Peugeot TotalEnergies suffered a similarly challenging qualifying session. Loïc Duval finished 15th in the #94 Peugeot 9X8 with a 1:31.628, while the sister #93 entry qualified 17th and last through Paul di Resta’s 1:31.713.
The result leaves both Peugeot crews facing a difficult race, particularly as the French manufacturer continues seeking stronger performances before the season concludes at Monza. For the #93 crew, Barcelona also marks Alex Quinn’s early Hypercar debut, giving the British driver an opportunity to gain further experience alongside di Resta and Nick Cassidy.
Jaubert delivers historic first pole for Genesis
Jaubert delivered a remarkable performance when the ten fastest Hypercars returned to the circuit for the final Hyperpole shootout. The Frenchman immediately established himself among the leading contenders, recording a 1:30.329 on his opening flying lap in the #17 Genesis.
His first effort already placed him ahead of the competition, but Jaubert subsequently improved to a 1:30.166 to secure pole by 0.170 seconds over Toyota’s Hirakawa.
The result represented the first outright FIA WEC pole position for Genesis Magma Racing, which entered the championship at the beginning of 2026. Furthermore, Jaubert became the youngest outright pole-sitter in the series’ history at 21, adding another significant achievement to his rapidly developing endurance racing career.
The Frenchman also recorded the two fastest laps of Hyperpole, demonstrating his control of the session despite changing track conditions.
Speaking after qualifying, Jaubert expressed his delight with the achievement and praised the team’s efforts throughout the weekend.
“It’s an incredible feeling!”
He subsequently explained that the circuit offered less grip than during practice, forcing the team to adjust its approach. Nevertheless, Genesis made effective tyre strategy decisions, allowing Jaubert to deliver his pole-winning performance.
The result provides the #17 crew with an opportunity to challenge for Genesis’ maiden FIA WEC victory during Sunday’s race. With Jaubert sharing the car with two-time world champion Lotterer and experienced endurance racer Derani, the team will aim to convert its qualifying success into a strong result.
Hirakawa secures crucial front-row start for Toyota
Hirakawa emerged as Jaubert’s closest challenger, recording a 1:30.336 in the #8 Toyota TR010 Hybrid. The Japanese driver finished 0.170 seconds behind the pole-sitting Genesis, securing an important front-row position for the championship-leading crew.
The result represented a significant improvement over Toyota’s final practice performance, when both entries finished outside the leading ten. Hirakawa nevertheless demonstrated the car’s competitiveness when qualifying began, delivering a lap that comfortably secured second overall.
His performance also carries substantial championship implications. Together with Buemi and Hartley, Hirakawa entered Barcelona leading the Drivers’ Championship following the trio’s victory at Fuji.
The crew holds 89 points, ten more than its #7 Toyota teammates and 14 ahead of BMW’s Rast and Frijns. Consequently, the front-row starting position provides an opportunity to strengthen its advantage and potentially secure the Drivers’ Championship before the season finale.
Meanwhile, the sister #7 Toyota finished ninth overall through de Vries, who recorded a 1:30.953. Although the crew could not match Hirakawa’s pace, its progression into Hyperpole ensured both Toyotas qualified ahead of the leading BMW.
Toyota therefore enters Sunday’s race in a promising position, particularly as it attempts to defend its advantage in the Manufacturers’ Championship.
Jaminet completes Genesis one-three despite second stoppage
Jaminet completed Genesis’ impressive qualifying performance by securing third overall in the #19 GMR-001. The Frenchman recorded a 1:30.490, finishing 0.324 seconds behind Jaubert and 0.154 seconds behind Hirakawa.
However, his Hyperpole session also included another interruption when the Genesis briefly stopped on track. The issue followed a similar stoppage during the opening qualifying segment, although Jaminet had already recorded a competitive lap before the second incident.
Despite the difficulties, the #19 remained among the leading three, giving Genesis its strongest collective qualifying performance since entering the championship.
The result also represented an encouraging achievement for Jaminet, Chatin and Juncadella, who had demonstrated improving pace throughout the Barcelona weekend. In particular, Juncadella’s performance during FP3 suggested that the Genesis GMR-001 could challenge the leading manufacturers on outright speed.
Consequently, Genesis will begin Sunday’s six-hour race with two cars among the leading three, placing the Korean manufacturer in an excellent position to challenge for its first FIA WEC victory.
Milesi secures fourth for Alpine
Alpine Endurance Team continued its encouraging Barcelona weekend as Milesi recorded a 1:30.722 in the #35 A424, securing fourth overall.
The Frenchman finished 0.556 seconds behind Jaubert and 0.232 seconds behind Jaminet, placing Alpine on the second row alongside the sister Genesis.
The result followed a considerable improvement during Saturday’s final practice session, when Alpine moved both its entries into the leading eight after struggling during Friday’s running.
Milesi shares the #35 with Ferdinand Habsburg, and the pair will aim to build on their strong qualifying performance during Sunday’s race. Their result also continued Alpine’s competitive momentum following a strong outing at Fuji, where the manufacturer narrowly missed victory.
Meanwhile, Victor Martins secured seventh overall in the sister #36 Alpine, recording a 1:30.814. The Frenchman finished just 0.092 seconds behind Milesi, giving Alpine two positions among the leading seven.
Both entries therefore demonstrated competitive single-lap pace, strengthening the manufacturer’s prospects as it approaches the final two rounds of its 2026 campaign.
Stevens leads Cadillac into fifth
Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA secured fifth overall through Stevens, who recorded a 1:30.784 in the #12 V-Series.R.
The British driver finished 0.618 seconds behind Jaubert and just 0.062 seconds behind Milesi, placing Cadillac among the leading contenders for Sunday’s race.
Stevens shares the #12 with Norman Nato and the returning Alex Lynn, who is making his first FIA WEC appearance since the 2025 season finale in Bahrain. Lynn’s return restores Cadillac’s established driver combination as the manufacturer attempts to conclude the season strongly.
The result followed an encouraging practice programme for the #12 crew, which had already demonstrated competitive pace across Friday and Saturday’s sessions.
However, the sister #38 Cadillac could not replicate that performance during Hyperpole. Jack Aitken recorded a 1:31.065, finishing tenth overall and 0.899 seconds behind Genesis.
Although the two cars will begin Sunday’s race from different positions, Cadillac has demonstrated enough pace throughout the weekend to challenge several leading manufacturers during the six-hour contest.
Kubica leads Ferrari challenge in sixth
AF Corse emerged as Ferrari’s leading representative during Hyperpole, with Kubica securing sixth overall in the #83 Ferrari 499P.
The Pole recorded a 1:30.804, finishing 0.638 seconds behind Jaubert and just 0.020 seconds behind Stevens’ Cadillac.
The result continued an encouraging weekend for Kubica, Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson, who had previously topped FP1 and finished third during FP2. Although the crew could not challenge Genesis or Toyota for pole, its sixth-place result secured a competitive starting position ahead of Sunday’s race.
Furthermore, the performance placed the customer Ferrari ahead of both factory entries, highlighting the different fortunes of the Italian manufacturer’s three Hypercars during qualifying.
The #83 crew will now aim to translate its single-lap pace into a strong race performance, particularly as Ferrari attempts to reduce Toyota’s championship advantage.
Fuoco loses potential fourth-place lap
Fuoco experienced a more frustrating Hyperpole session in the #50 factory Ferrari, finishing eighth overall with a 1:30.836.
The Italian had initially recorded a faster lap of 1:30.552, which would have placed him fourth overall behind the two Genesis entries and Hirakawa’s Toyota. However, officials deleted the time after determining that he had exceeded track limits.
Consequently, Fuoco had to rely on his slower valid lap, leaving the #50 Ferrari 0.670 seconds behind Jaubert and two positions behind Kubica.
The result represented a disappointing conclusion to a weekend in which Fuoco had demonstrated considerable single-lap pace. He had topped FP3 earlier on Saturday with a 1:31.026, establishing the fastest practice benchmark before qualifying.
However, the track-limits infringement prevented Ferrari from securing a stronger starting position, leaving the Italian manufacturer without a representative among the leading five.
The #50 crew will therefore begin Sunday’s race from eighth, while the sister #51 Ferrari faces an even more challenging task from 13th.
De Vries places second Toyota ninth
De Vries secured ninth overall in the #7 Toyota, recording a 1:30.953 during Hyperpole. The Dutchman finished 0.787 seconds behind Jaubert and 0.617 seconds behind teammate Hirakawa.
Although the result left the crew outside the leading eight, it represented an important improvement over Toyota’s position during FP3, when neither entry had featured inside the top ten.
The #7 crew remains involved in the Drivers’ Championship battle, entering Barcelona just ten points behind the sister #8 Toyota. Consequently, Conway, Kobayashi and de Vries will aim to make progress during Sunday’s race to maintain their championship ambitions.
With the sister Toyota starting from the front row, the team’s contrasting grid positions could influence the championship battle as the six-hour contest unfolds.
Aitken completes top ten for Cadillac
Aitken completed the Hyperpole classification in tenth for Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, recording a 1:31.065 in the #38 V-Series.R.
The British driver finished 0.899 seconds behind Genesis and 0.112 seconds behind de Vries, leaving the crew he shares with Earl Bamber and Sébastien Bourdais on the fifth row.
The result represented a change from Saturday’s FP3 session, when the #38 Cadillac had finished third overall. Although Aitken could not reproduce that performance during Hyperpole, Cadillac retained both entries among the leading ten.
With Stevens starting fifth in the sister #12, the American manufacturer will enter Sunday’s race with opportunities to challenge through both crews, particularly as the six-hour duration creates scope for strategic variations and position changes.
Toyota strengthens position against BMW
The qualifying results carry particular significance for Toyota’s championship ambitions, with Hirakawa securing second overall while BMW failed to advance either of its entries into Hyperpole.
The #8 Toyota enters Sunday’s race with a ten-point advantage over its sister #7 crew and a 14-point lead over the #20 BMW drivers in the Drivers’ Championship.
Furthermore, Toyota holds a 23-point advantage over BMW in the Manufacturers’ standings, meaning the contrasting qualifying results could prove important as the championship approaches its final two rounds.
Although qualifying points do not determine the final outcome, Toyota’s stronger starting positions provide an encouraging foundation for Sunday’s race. Nevertheless, with six hours of competition remaining, BMW will have opportunities to recover through strategy, traffic management and consistent race pace.
Genesis targets maiden victory after historic pole
For Genesis Magma Racing, the result represents another significant milestone in its debut FIA WEC campaign.
Jaubert’s pole position demonstrated the manufacturer’s growing competitiveness, while Jaminet’s third-place performance confirmed that both GMR-001 entries possess the speed to challenge the established Hypercar manufacturers.
However, converting qualifying success into a race victory will present a different challenge. Barcelona’s high-speed corners and demanding tyre characteristics will place considerable pressure on the teams over six hours, particularly as drivers navigate traffic from the 18-car LMGT3 field.
Nevertheless, Genesis enters Sunday’s race with its strongest starting positions of the season, giving the Korean manufacturer an opportunity to secure another landmark achievement.
Genesis leads Hypercar field into Sunday’s 6 Hours of Barcelona
Genesis Magma Racing will lead the 17-car Hypercar field into Sunday’s inaugural 6 Hours of Barcelona after Jaubert secured the manufacturer’s first FIA WEC pole position. The Frenchman will start alongside championship leader Hirakawa, while teammate Jaminet and Alpine’s Milesi complete the second row.
However, the narrow margins throughout qualifying suggest that several manufacturers remain capable of challenging for victory. Genesis, Toyota, Alpine, Cadillac and Ferrari all demonstrated competitive pace, while Aston Martin and BMW face recovery drives from outside the leading ten.
The championship battle also remains a major consideration, particularly as Toyota attempts to strengthen its advantage before the season finale at Monza. Meanwhile, Genesis will aim to convert its historic qualifying performance into a maiden victory.
The 2026 WEC 6 Hours of Barcelona begins at 12:00 local time (CEST) on Sunday, 18 October, with 17 Hypercars and 18 LMGT3 entries contesting the penultimate round of the championship.
2026 WEC 6 Hours of Barcelona: Full Hypercar Qualifying and Hyperpole results
Hyperpole classification – Positions 1–10
- #17 Genesis Magma Racing — Genesis GMR-001 — Mathys Jaubert — 1:30.166
- #8 Toyota Racing — Toyota TR010 Hybrid — Ryō Hirakawa — 1:30.336 (+0.170)
- #19 Genesis Magma Racing — Genesis GMR-001 — Mathieu Jaminet — 1:30.490 (+0.324)
- #35 Alpine Endurance Team — Alpine A424 — Charles Milesi — 1:30.722 (+0.556)
- #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA — Cadillac V-Series.R — Will Stevens — 1:30.784 (+0.618)
- #83 AF Corse — Ferrari 499P — Robert Kubica — 1:30.804 (+0.638)
- #36 Alpine Endurance Team — Alpine A424 — Victor Martins — 1:30.814 (+0.648)
- #50 Ferrari AF Corse — Ferrari 499P — Antonio Fuoco — 1:30.836 (+0.670)
- #7 Toyota Racing — Toyota TR010 Hybrid — Nyck de Vries — 1:30.953 (+0.787)
- #38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA — Cadillac V-Series.R — Jack Aitken — 1:31.065 (+0.899)
Eliminated in Qualifying – Positions 11–17
- #009 Aston Martin THOR Team — Aston Martin Valkyrie — Alex Riberas — 1:31.443
- #007 Aston Martin THOR Team — Aston Martin Valkyrie — Harry Tincknell — 1:31.464
- #51 Ferrari AF Corse — Ferrari 499P — Antonio Giovinazzi — 1:31.508
- #20 BMW M Team WRT — BMW M Hybrid V8 — Sheldon van der Linde — 1:31.571
- #94 Peugeot TotalEnergies — Peugeot 9X8 — Loïc Duval — 1:31.628
- #15 BMW M Team WRT — BMW M Hybrid V8 — Kevin Magnussen — 1:31.650
- #93 Peugeot TotalEnergies — Peugeot 9X8 — Paul di Resta — 1:31.713
