Following its late-race drama on the Austin, Toyota has reworked components of the hydraulic system and the software program code for its Le Mans-winning TR010 Hybrid forward of the 6 Hours of Fuji.
The #7 Toyota of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries was main the World Endurance Championship’s Lone Star Le Mans when a hydraulic failure compelled de Vries again into the pits, retiring the automobile simply 10 minutes from the tip.
In the meantime, the #8 Toyota shared by Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa fell out of competition resulting from a pitlane velocity violation.
Following an investigation, Toyota has launched updates addressing each issues.
Whereas Toyota Racing vice-president Kazuki Nakajima confirmed a brand new part within the TR010’s hydraulic system, technical director David Floury didn’t go into element however confirmed modifications addressing each points.
“We solved two points right here for certain. It was a short while [gap between the two races], however we managed to repair the 2 points, and they need to not reproduce,” he mentioned when requested by Motorsport.com.
“I believe we had a robust race. Sadly, we had points on every of our vehicles,” he mentioned. “One automobile had a giant velocity overshoot, which led to a penalty, and the opposite one had a hydraulic failure. That is a disgrace as a result of we did the job and we have been in a great place. We might have had each vehicles on the rostrum and acquired some buffer within the championship, which we did not do.”
When requested concerning the challenge on the #8 automobile, Floury confirmed that the automobile had run right into a beforehand unseen software program bug.
“It is a very small software program bug that was triggered by a mix of things we had by no means confronted, which triggered the bug after we launched the automobile from the pit place,” he mentioned.
“This bug is now mounted. That was fairly unlucky as a result of it was not new code for COTA. It is only a mixture of the various factors we have been in. The sequence simply triggered it to occur.”
#7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota TR010: Nyck De Vries
Picture by: FIA WEC / DPPI
Title battle extensive open earlier than Fuji
The #7 drivers, in the meantime, hope to depart the drama behind and concentrate on the title battle. They’re tied on factors with #20 BMW drivers Robin Frijns and Rene Rast, with the #8Toyota, the #15 BMW, and each Ferrari 499Ps additionally remaining in competition for the championship in Hypercar.
“The wonder in competitors is that after a foul end result you get a brand new probability, and after a great end result you get a brand new probability,” Nyck de Vries instructed Motorsport.com.
“In fact, it was unlucky and disappointing as a result of I believe it was an ideal race for us. We actually deserved the reward and the factors for that, and it’s kind of painful for the championship, however sadly it’s the approach it’s and we put that behind us now.
“It is good that we’re right here at our dwelling race for Toyota, so hopefully that offers us somewhat bit of additional help. I would not name it additional motivation, however just a bit little bit of a tailwind, and hopefully we will execute effectively.”
The weekend began effectively with the #8 Toyota setting the perfect lap time in FP1, however in FP2 the TR010 Hybrids solely managed P8 and P13. Nonetheless, it’s a recognized incontrovertible fact that the TR010 comes into its personal over lengthy race distances reasonably than on single-lap tempo.
Historically, Toyota has been very robust at its dwelling race in Fuji, profitable 9 of the primary ten races since 2012. Solely in 2024 did fortunes change, with a seventh-place end by the #7 in 2025 being the perfect end result for a Toyota on the 6 Hours of Fuji over the past two years.
Alternatively, the TR010 replace launched for the 2026 season has paid big dividends, as Toyota has been within the battle for the win in 4 of the 5 races to date.
“I believe the competitors is so shut now that it’s totally robust to make predictions, as a result of one or two tenths going forwards or backwards can value you a lot positions throughout the entire area,” de Vries mentioned when requested about his probabilities.
“I would not say I am going into any weekend with expectations essentially. I believe it is extra concerning the preparation and your individual method in direction of the occasion, which is all the time being as effectively ready as potential and attempting to execute a great weekend, after which we’ll see the place we’re.”
Fuji might be a pivotal level earlier than the season strikes to Europe to determine the world championship. Toyota, who might all the time rely on their power on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit in earlier title fights, must do it with out one in every of its finest tracks this time.
“As I mentioned, the whole lot could be very shut and the whole lot is open,” de Vries mentioned. “How robust the others are is partly out of our management. So we attempt to concentrate on ourselves and do the perfect we will. Hopefully, that can permit us to be within the battle till the very finish and hopefully prevail.”
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– The Motorsport.com Crew