The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) returns to the Autodromo Nazionale Monza from 6–8 November for the final round of the 2026 season, with three championship titles still undecided. Toyota arrives having already secured the Hypercar Manufacturers’ Championship, although its two crews remain locked in a battle for the Drivers’ crown.
A 35-car field, comprising 17 Hypercars and 18 LMGT3 entries, will contest the six-hour race on Sunday. Toyota’s Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa hold a 17-point advantage over teammates Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries, while BMW, Ferrari and Cadillac remain involved in the battle for second in the Manufacturers’ standings.
Meanwhile, TF Sport leads both LMGT3 championship battles through its No. 33 Corvette, although The Bend Manthey has emerged as its closest challenger following victory at Barcelona. Racing Team Turkey and Team WRT also remain mathematically involved, ensuring that the production-based category will crown its champions during the final race.
Beyond the championship battles, Monza will mark Conway’s final professional racing appearance and the conclusion of Alpine’s current WEC programme. The Italian circuit will also host several significant milestones, including Richard Lietz’s 100th championship start and Porsche’s 500th WEC entry across its various 911 GT racing programmes.
Monza returns to WEC calendar for championship-deciding finale
The 2026 6 Hours of Monza marks the championship’s return to the historic Italian circuit for the first time since 2023. Having previously hosted WEC for three consecutive seasons between 2021 and 2023, Monza will now stage the final round as the championship concludes its campaign in Europe for the first time since 2019.
Known as the Temple of Speed, the 5.793km circuit features 11 corners, including its famous high-speed sections and heavy braking zones. Its combination of long straights, tight chicanes and demanding corner exits places considerable importance on aerodynamic efficiency, braking stability and traction.
The venue also has a longstanding history in international endurance racing, having hosted major sportscar events for more than six decades. However, several of the manufacturers competing this weekend have never previously raced at Monza in WEC, creating additional challenges as teams prepare for the final six-hour contest.
The confirmed 35-car entry list features 17 different car models, compared with 12 during the championship’s previous visit. Furthermore, 11 Italian drivers will compete on home soil as Italy becomes the first country to host the opening and closing rounds of the same WEC season at different venues.
Toyota arrives as Hypercar Manufacturers’ champion
Toyota Racing enters Monza having already secured its eighth WEC Manufacturers’ Championship following a dominant performance at the penultimate round in Barcelona.
The Japanese manufacturer completed a commanding one-two finish in Spain, with the No. 8 Toyota TR010 Hybrid of Buemi, Hartley and Hirakawa leading home the sister No. 7 entry of Conway, Kobayashi and de Vries. The two cars crossed the line just 0.583 seconds apart, securing Toyota’s fourth victory of the 2026 campaign.
The result also confirmed Toyota’s fifth Manufacturers’ Championship in six seasons of the Hypercar era, completing a significant turnaround following a challenging 2025 campaign.
Having entered Barcelona with a 23-point advantage over BMW, Toyota extended its lead to 58 points, placing the championship beyond reach with one round remaining.
However, the Barcelona one-two proved equally significant for the Drivers’ Championship. The No. 8 crew secured its second consecutive victory following its success at Fuji, increasing its advantage over the sister Toyota from ten to 17 points.
Although the Manufacturers’ title has already been decided, Toyota’s two crews will now compete directly for the remaining Hypercar championship.
Buemi, Hartley and Hirakawa lead Hypercar Drivers’ Championship
The Hypercar Drivers’ Championship remains exclusively contested between Toyota’s two entries, with Buemi, Hartley and Hirakawa entering Monza as the clear favourites.
The No. 8 crew leads with 114 points after securing three victories during the season, while Conway, Kobayashi and de Vries occupy second with 97. With 26 points available, including one for pole position, both combinations remain mathematically capable of winning the title.
However, the 17-point difference places the championship firmly in the No. 8 crew’s control. A fifth-place finish would guarantee the title regardless of the No. 7 Toyota’s performance.
The situation is considerably more difficult for the chasing crew. Victory and pole position would bring the No. 7’s total to 123 points, requiring the No. 8 to finish sixth or lower. Without the pole-position bonus, the leading Toyota would need to finish seventh or lower for its teammates to gain an outright points advantage.
The championship’s recent momentum also favours Buemi, Hartley and Hirakawa, who have won consecutive races at Fuji and Barcelona.
For Buemi and Hartley, Monza will mark their 50th WEC appearance together, with both drivers targeting a record-extending fifth Drivers’ World Championship.
No. 7 Toyota retains strong record at Monza
Although the No. 8 Toyota enters with a substantial championship advantage, the sister No. 7 possesses a particularly strong record at Monza.
Conway and Kobayashi formed part of Toyota’s winning combinations in 2021 and 2023, securing pole position before both victories. The pair also finished third in 2022, meaning they have reached the podium during all three previous WEC visits to the circuit.
Kobayashi also holds the championship’s qualifying lap record at Monza, providing another positive reference as the team prepares for Saturday’s Hyperpole session.
However, the No. 7 crew has experienced several costly setbacks throughout 2026. Most notably, a late hydraulic failure at Circuit of The Americas denied the team a likely victory, significantly damaging its championship prospects.
The crew subsequently struggled to match the No. 8’s results during the final rounds, with its teammates securing consecutive victories at Fuji and Barcelona.
Nevertheless, Toyota has confirmed that it will not impose team orders at Monza, allowing both crews to compete for the Drivers’ Championship.
With the No. 7’s previous success at the circuit, the championship battle remains open despite the considerable points difference.
Conway prepares for final professional racing appearance
Monza will also mark the conclusion of Conway’s professional racing career, bringing an end to a successful association with Toyota that began in 2014.
The British driver confirmed his retirement ahead of the final two rounds, having secured two WEC Drivers’ Championships and two overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
His achievements include championship success during the 2019/20 and 2021 seasons, alongside Le Mans victories in 2021 and 2026. The latter represented an important milestone in his career and contributed to his decision to retire from full-time professional competition.
Conway’s final race will also mark his 94th appearance for Toyota, while he and Kobayashi will share driving responsibilities for the 75th time.
The pair have established themselves among the championship’s most successful endurance racing partnerships, with their achievements spanning several generations of Toyota prototype machinery.
Although the No. 7 crew faces a difficult championship challenge, another victory at Monza would provide a significant conclusion to Conway’s career.
Securing a third Drivers’ World Championship would represent an even greater achievement, although that outcome will depend on both the No. 7’s performance and the results of its sister car.
BMW, Ferrari and Cadillac battle for Manufacturers’ runner-up honours
Although Toyota has secured the Hypercar Manufacturers’ Championship, the battle for second remains open between BMW, Ferrari and Cadillac.
BMW M Team WRT occupies second with 154 points, holding a 24-point advantage over Ferrari on 130. Cadillac follows with 118, leaving the three manufacturers separated by 36 points ahead of the final round.
The German manufacturer established its advantage through a strong opening half of the campaign, securing its maiden Hypercar victory at Spa-Francorchamps before adding another success at São Paulo.
However, BMW has struggled to maintain that momentum during the closing rounds. At Barcelona, the No. 15 M Hybrid V8 finished seventh, while the sister No. 20 failed to score following a difficult race affected by tyre-pressure problems and a penalty.
Ferrari subsequently reduced the deficit after Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen finished third in the No. 50 499P.
Meanwhile, Cadillac continued its consistent performances, securing fourth and sixth in Barcelona to add another 22 points to its Manufacturers’ total.
With a maximum of 44 points available at Monza, Ferrari and Cadillac remain capable of challenging BMW for second. However, both will require strong results from their entries while hoping the German manufacturer’s difficult recent form continues.
Ferrari seeks home victory after challenging title defence
Ferrari will be particularly motivated to conclude its 2026 campaign with victory at Monza, having lost the opportunity to defend its Hypercar Manufacturers’ Championship.
The Italian manufacturer dominated the previous season but has secured just one victory in 2026, with Fuoco, Molina and Nielsen winning at Circuit of The Americas after Toyota encountered late technical problems.
Nevertheless, the No. 50 crew returned to the podium at Barcelona, finishing third behind the dominant Toyotas. That result provided an important boost ahead of the Italian finale, particularly as Ferrari attempts to overhaul BMW for second in the Manufacturers’ standings.
The sister No. 51 Ferrari of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi endured a considerably more difficult race in Spain, finishing outside the points after encountering tyre-related problems.
However, the 499P has previously demonstrated competitive pace at Monza, securing a podium during its first appearance at the circuit in 2023.
Furthermore, five of Ferrari’s six factory Hypercar drivers have previously finished on the podium at Monza in GT competition, providing considerable experience of the circuit.
With the support of its home crowd and second place in the Manufacturers’ standings still available, Ferrari will aim to end its difficult championship defence with a strong result.
Alpine prepares for final WEC appearance
The Monza finale will also mark the conclusion of Alpine Endurance Team’s current WEC programme, with the French manufacturer preparing for its 80th and final championship appearance.
Alpine has enjoyed previous success at the Italian circuit, with its No. 36 entry finishing second in 2021 before claiming victory the following season.
The team’s final race will also mark its 36th Hypercar appearance, providing a fitting numerical coincidence as the manufacturer concludes its involvement in the category.
Although Alpine has not secured a victory during its final season, its performances have demonstrated encouraging competitiveness. At Fuji, the No. 36 A424 of Victor Martins and Jules Gounon finished second after challenging Toyota for victory, while the sister entry also finished inside the leading five.
The team subsequently encountered a more difficult weekend at Barcelona, although both cars demonstrated competitive pace during qualifying and the race.
Alpine will now aim to translate that potential into a strong final result at Monza, where the circuit’s long straights and heavy braking zones will present a different challenge from the previous round.
The race therefore represents an important conclusion for the French outfit as it prepares to leave the championship.
Genesis and Peugeot target strong conclusion to 2026
Beyond the leading championship contenders, Genesis Magma Racing and Peugeot will aim to conclude the season with competitive results.
Genesis arrives following a significant qualifying breakthrough at Barcelona, where Mathys Jaubert secured the manufacturer’s first Hypercar pole position.
The South Korean manufacturer’s achievement demonstrated its progress during its debut campaign, with the No. 17 GMR-001 finishing ahead of Toyota and the sister Genesis in the Hyperpole classification.
However, the team’s strong qualifying performance did not translate into a competitive race result. Both cars encountered difficulties during the opening stages, with the No. 19 finishing 11th and the No. 17 ending the race 16th.
Monza will therefore provide another opportunity for Genesis to convert its improving pace into a stronger result.
Meanwhile, Peugeot returns to a circuit where it made its WEC debut in 2022. The French manufacturer subsequently secured its first Hypercar podium with the 9X8 at Monza in 2023.
The No. 93 Peugeot will also feature Alex Quinn, who made his Hypercar debut at Barcelona after replacing Stoffel Vandoorne for the final two rounds.
TF Sport Corvette leads LMGT3 championship battle
The LMGT3 championship remains led by TF Sport’s No. 33 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R, with the British outfit seeking its first title in the category.
The championship-leading car has accumulated 92 points through consistent performances across the opening seven rounds, including victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
However, its advantage narrowed considerably during the Barcelona race, where Ben Keating, Jonny Edgar and Nicky Catsburg finished seventh following a difficult afternoon.
The result added just six points to the team’s total, allowing several rivals to reduce their deficits ahead of the finale.
The Bend Manthey now occupies second with 74 points, while the sister TF Sport-operated No. 34 Racing Team Turkey Corvette follows on 70. Team WRT’s No. 69 BMW completes the four mathematical contenders on 66.
Nevertheless, TF Sport retains a substantial advantage. A fifth-place finish, worth ten points, would guarantee the Teams’ Championship regardless of its rivals’ results.
The Corvette also has a strong historical record at Monza, having secured LMGTE Pro victory in 2022 before the No. 33 entry claimed the LMGTE Am title at the circuit in 2023.
Edgar targets LMGT3 Drivers’ Championship
The LMGT3 Drivers’ Championship presents a slightly different situation from the Teams’ standings, with Edgar leading individually after completing the full season for TF Sport.
The British driver enters Monza with 92 points, while teammate Catsburg follows on 88 after missing part of the campaign. Keating also remains further down the classification on 70 points, reflecting the changes to the No. 33 Corvette’s driver combination during the season.
Consequently, Edgar is the best-positioned driver to secure the title, although the championship remains mathematically open.
The Bend Manthey trio of Yasser Shahin, Riccardo Pera and Richard Lietz follows on 74 points, while Racing Team Turkey’s crew remains on 70.
The difference between the individual and team classifications means that the final results could produce different outcomes across the two championships, particularly if Catsburg and Edgar remain separated by their current four-point margin.
For TF Sport, securing both titles would represent a significant achievement following a campaign built on consistent scoring and its important Le Mans victory.
However, the team will need to avoid another difficult weekend, particularly given the momentum carried by Manthey following its success in Barcelona.
Manthey targets third consecutive LMGT3 Championship
The Bend Manthey enters Monza as TF Sport’s closest challenger following a commanding victory at Barcelona, which transformed its championship position.
Shahin, Pera and Lietz secured the team’s first LMGT3 victory of the season, finishing 4.750 seconds ahead of Garage 59’s McLaren.
The result lifted the No. 92 Porsche from seventh to second in the Teams’ Championship, reducing its deficit to TF Sport from 37 to 18 points.
Manthey’s performance proved particularly impressive given the challenging conditions. Shahin established the advantage during the opening hour before Pera and Lietz maintained control through several interruptions and changing weather conditions.
Having secured the first two LMGT3 championships in 2024 and 2025, Manthey now has an opportunity to claim a third consecutive title.
However, the No. 92 crew must outscore TF Sport by at least 19 points to finish ahead outright, leaving it dependent on another exceptional result and difficulties for the championship leader.
The German outfit also has an encouraging history at Monza, where Porsche secured an LMGTE Am podium sweep during the championship’s previous visit in 2023.
For Italian driver Pera, the opportunity to compete on home soil adds further significance to the championship decider.
Racing Team Turkey and Team WRT retain mathematical chances
Although TF Sport and Manthey occupy the leading positions, Racing Team Turkey and Team WRT remain involved in the LMGT3 title battle.
The No. 34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Corvette enters the finale third with 70 points, trailing the championship-leading No. 33 by 22.
The crew of Peter Dempsey, Salih Yoluç and Charlie Eastwood therefore needs a substantial points swing to secure the title, with the team requiring victory or another major result while relying on difficulties for the leading entries.
Meanwhile, the No. 69 Team WRT BMW of Anthony McIntosh, Parker Thompson and Daniel Harper sits fourth with 66 points.
The BMW faces the most difficult championship scenario. Even with victory and pole position, it can only reach 92 points, meaning TF Sport must fail to score for the two teams to become level.
The remaining contenders would also need to finish sufficiently far behind, with the championship then dependent on the countback regulations.
Nevertheless, the wider 18-car LMGT3 field could significantly influence the title outcome. Competitors outside the championship battle remain capable of taking valuable points away from the leading four, particularly if changing conditions or race interruptions affect the competitive order.
Porsche and Corvette prepare for historic Monza milestones
The final round will also feature several significant milestones for both Porsche and Corvette, whose GT racing programmes have achieved considerable success throughout WEC history.
Monza will mark Chevrolet’s 80th championship appearance, with the manufacturer seeking its first LMGT3 title after securing previous honours in the LMGTE categories.
The Corvette programme has enjoyed notable success at Monza, including its 2022 LMGTE Pro victory and the following year’s LMGTE Am championship triumph.
Porsche will also reach an important landmark, with the 911 recording its 500th WEC entry across the various GT categories in which it has competed.
Furthermore, Lietz will make his 100th WEC start, becoming only the second driver to reach the milestone after Buemi achieved the same feat at Barcelona.
The Austrian recently became the first driver to secure five LMGT3 victories, adding another distinction to an extensive endurance racing career.
For Manthey, the occasion presents an opportunity to combine those milestones with championship success, although its closest competitors remain determined to prevent Porsche from securing another title.
Monza presents demanding technical and strategic challenge
Monza’s characteristics will create a substantially different challenge from Barcelona, with teams required to balance aerodynamic efficiency against the demands of high-speed braking and traction.
The circuit’s long straights encourage lower-downforce configurations, reducing aerodynamic drag and improving top speed. However, the heavy braking zones at the Rettifilo and Roggia chicanes require stability, particularly when drivers approach them at high speed.
Traction through the slower corners will also be important, with teams needing to manage tyre temperatures and wear across long stints.
For the Hypercars, energy management and hybrid deployment could influence performance, particularly during acceleration and overtaking opportunities along the straights.
Traffic management will provide another significant challenge, with 17 Hypercars sharing the circuit with 18 LMGT3 cars. The substantial speed differences between categories could create opportunities and risks as faster prototypes approach slower traffic at the braking zones.
Furthermore, the potential for Safety Cars and Full Course Yellows could influence pit-stop timing and tyre strategies, particularly as teams attempt to maximise track position during the final championship-deciding race.
2026 WEC 6 Hours of Monza weekend schedule
The season finale begins with two Free Practice sessions on Friday, 6 November, before the final practice and qualifying sessions take place on Saturday. All times are local Central European Time (CET, UTC+1).
Friday, 6 November
- 10:30 — Free Practice 1
- 14:30 — Free Practice 2
Saturday, 7 November
- 10:30 — Free Practice 3
- 14:20 — LMGT3 Qualifying
- 14:40 — LMGT3 Hyperpole
- 15:00 — Hypercar Qualifying
- 15:20 — Hypercar Hyperpole
Sunday, 8 November
- 11:00 — 6 Hours of Monza
The six-hour race is scheduled to conclude at 17:00 local time, with the start corresponding to 10:00 GMT in the United Kingdom.
The championship will broadcast the weekend through FIAWEC+, alongside its international television partners.
The complete timetable and confirmed entry list are available on the official Monza event page.
Monza prepares to decide three championship titles
The 2026 WEC season concludes with three championship battles still open, ensuring that both Hypercar and LMGT3 will have significant implications throughout the final six-hour race.
Toyota arrives having already secured the Manufacturers’ Championship, but its two crews remain involved in a direct battle for Drivers’ honours. Buemi, Hartley and Hirakawa hold a substantial advantage, although Conway, Kobayashi and de Vries retain an opportunity to overturn the deficit.
Meanwhile, TF Sport remains the favourite in LMGT3, having established an 18-point advantage over Manthey. However, Porsche’s Barcelona victory has transformed the championship battle, while Racing Team Turkey and Team WRT remain mathematically involved.
Ferrari will also aim to conclude its challenging title defence with victory on home soil, while BMW and Cadillac continue competing for the remaining Manufacturers’ Championship positions.
Beyond the title battles, Conway’s retirement, Alpine’s final WEC appearance and several significant driver and manufacturer milestones add further importance to the weekend.
With 35 cars representing 14 manufacturers and the championship returning to one of endurance racing’s most historic circuits, the 6 Hours of Monza will determine the final honours of the 2026 season.
