TOYOTA RACING accelerated its preparations for the opening round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season with two trouble-free practice sessions for the 6 Hours of Imola.
After completing a comprehensive testing programme during Tuesday’s Prologue, the two TR010 HYBRIDs were back on track in Italy for a pair of 90-minute free practice sessions. Unlike the rain-affected Prologue, Friday’s action took place in warm temperatures, under clear skies.
Strong teamwork contributed to another productive day, which finished with the #7 TR010 HYBRID of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries second fastest overall, just 0.114secs behind the pace-setting #35 Alpine. Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa were 10th, half a second further back, in their #8 TR010 HYBRID.
“We had a smooth day with no dramas, and we tested a few different things on the car,” said Hartley. “The track temperature was different to the Prologue which had an effect.
“In terms of the overall picture, all I can say is it’s very close at the front. I feel like we have a chance, but we are going to have to put everything together.”
The fastest laps were set by Nyck and Ryō respectively at the beginning of second practice, on new tyres and with lower fuel loads. Aside from these qualifying simulations, both sessions were used for comparing mechanical and aerodynamic settings. Data gathered during Friday’s three hours of practice around the 4.909km Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari will help the team optimise car set-up and tyre strategy for the race, Toyota’s 100th with hybrid power in WEC.
Preparation will continue during a final free practice on Saturday morning, before the starting grid is decided by qualifying and Hyperpole, starting for Hypercars from 3.10pm CEST. The race, when the team will aim to repeat its 2024 Imola victory, begins on Sunday at 1pm local time.
6 Hours of Imola – Free Practice 1
1st #83 AF Corse 1min 31.739secs
2nd #50 Ferrari AF Corse +0.023secs
3rd #51 Ferrari AF Corse +0.243secs
4th #12 Cadillac Hertz Team Jota +0.444secs
5th #94 Peugeot Totalenergies +0.612secs
6th #93 Peugeot Totalenergies +0.717secs
7th #8 TOYOTA RACING +0.834secs
12th #7 TOYOTA RACING +1.209secs
6 Hours of Imola – Free Practice 2
1st #35 Alpine Endurance Team 1min 30.898secs
2nd #7 TOYOTA RACING +0.114secs
3rd #50 Ferrari AF Corse +0.138secs
4th #51 Ferrari AF Corse +0.189secs
5th #94 Peugeot Totalenergies +0.327secs
6th #20 BMW M Team WRT +0.456secs
10th #8 TOYOTA RACING +0.657secs
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