The No. 7 Toyota Racing squad secured victory in the top-tier Hypercar class at the 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Sunday, June 14, 2026, marking a triumphant return to the top step for the Toyota Gazoo Racing team. Driven by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries, they completed 381 laps to beat the No. 20 BMW M Team WRT by just 10.913 seconds, with the sister No. 8 Toyota finishing third.
Key Takeaways
- The No. 7 Toyota Racing car won the 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, marking a triumphant return to the top step for the Japanese manufacturer.
- Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries completed 381 laps to win by an unusually close margin of just 10.913 seconds over the No. 20 BMW M Team WRT.
- Toyota secured a one-three finish in the Hypercar class, with the No. 7 and No. 8 cars finishing first and third after beating rivals like BMW and Cadillac.
- The victory was built on an aggressive early short-fuelling strategy that undercut the competition around the 30-minute mark of the race.
- This result marks Toyota’s sixth overall Le Mans win, equaling Bentley’s all-time record, and ending a multi-year drought since their previous triumph in 2022.
Race Highlights
Watch the full race highlights and key moments from this thrilling 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans below.
How did Toyota win the race?
The No. 7 Toyota Racing car’s triumph was an against-the-odds victory, as both Toyotas started near the bottom of the Hypercar grid at the Circuit de la Sarthe. Rather than relying on raw qualifying pace to dictate their race outcome, the team executed a tactical masterclass by making an aggressive early call to short-fuel their cars only about 30 minutes into the race.
This early undercut gained them crucial track position that their rivals could not overcome. The No. 7 car then controlled the closing stages of the event, taking the lead on track from the No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA and managing the finish flawlessly after a late Full Course Yellow safety car period.
What were the key moments of the 24 hours?
The race featured intense battles across the Hypercar class, with BMW’s No. 20 car leading at one point on Sunday morning and mounting a strong challenge for victory. However, a scruffy in-lap by driver Robin Frijns handed momentum back to Toyota, allowing them to eventually finish second.
The sister No. 8 Toyota had a much tougher run, suffering an off-track excursion for driver Brendon Hartley after the first safety car restart. A brake drum mounting change on Sunday morning also cost the car valuable time, though it managed to recover and finish third.
Drama continued as Nyck de Vries was investigated by the stewards for track-cutting but was ultimately cleared. Meanwhile, the No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA contended for victory through much of the race before finishing fourth.
2026 Le Mans results: overall podium and class winners
| Position | Car/Team | Drivers | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No. 7 Toyota Racing | Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, Nyck de Vries | Winners (381 laps) |
| 2 | No. 20 BMW M Team WRT | Robin Frijns, Rene Rast, Sheldon van der Linde | +10.913s |
| 3 | No. 8 Toyota Racing | Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa | +20.417s |
| 4 | No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA | Norman Nato, Will Stevens, Louis Deletraz |
In the supporting classes, the No. 43 Inter Europol Competition took victory in the LMP2 category, while the No. 33 TF Sport claimed the LMGT3 class win.
Why is Toyota’s win historic?
This victory carries immense significance for the Japanese manufacturer, as it marks their sixth overall Le Mans triumph. This tally now equals Bentley’s all-time number of wins at the Circuit de la Sarthe, cementing Toyota’s legacy in endurance racing.
Furthermore, this was Toyota’s first Le Mans win since 2022, ending a frustrating multi-year drought. The incredibly tight 10.913-second winning margin also made it an unusually close finish for a grueling 24-hour race.
On a driver level, the result was particularly special for Nyck de Vries, who secured his first-ever Le Mans win alongside Conway and Kobayashi, who both claimed their second victories at the track.
What does the result mean for the season?
The 24 Hours of Le Mans serves as the centrepiece round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), and this result signals a massive resurgence for Toyota Racing. By beating formidable rivals like BMW and Cadillac in such a close contest, the team has generated significant momentum heading into the remainder of the championship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans?
The No. 7 Toyota Racing car secured the overall win at the 94th edition of the event. Driven by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries, they completed 381 laps to take the checkered flag.
What was the winning margin?
The No. 7 Toyota finished just 10.913 seconds ahead of the second-place No. 20 BMW M Team WRT. This incredibly tight finish made it one of the closest outcomes in the history of the grueling 24-hour race.
How did Toyota win?
Toyota secured their victory through an aggressive early short-fuelling strategy around the 30-minute mark, which undercut their rivals and gained them crucial track position despite starting near the bottom of the Hypercar grid.
Who finished on the podium?
The overall podium consisted of the No. 7 Toyota Racing finishing first, followed by the No. 20 BMW M Team WRT in second place. The sister No. 8 Toyota Racing car rounded out the top three with a third-place finish.
Who won the LMP2 and LMGT3 classes?
The No. 43 Inter Europol Competition claimed victory in the LMP2 category, while the No. 33 TF Sport took home the win for the LMGT3 class.
