P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Toyota has officially revealed the hypercar it hopes will return it to the top of WEC
Since Toyota first revealed an initial visual of its 2026 LMH on October 1 last year, several key developments have occurred. The car underwent a shake-down at Paul Ricard on October 8 and 9 in camouflage livery, with the first images shared by The Race. Following this, it underwent further testing at the Cologne wind tunnel and Windshear facility in North Carolina.
A significant test occurred at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar on December 10 and 12, in preparation for the 2026 season opener on March 28. Additional testing is planned, including a return to Paul Ricard later this month. Toyota recently unveiled the first official images of the 2026 LMH just before the Tokyo Auto Salon.
Notable changes include Toyota renaming its European R&D center and subsidiary back to Toyota Racing GmbH and rebranding its team from Toyota Gazoo Racing to Toyota Racing for the 2026 season. The updated TR010 HYBRID Hypercar sports a livery similar to the Yaris WRC, drawing inspiration from the #7 GR010 Hybrid’s design at Le Mans last year.
This represents the third major evolution in Toyota’s LMH program, aimed at improving driveability and consistency rather than seeking outright performance gains. Despite the name change, Toyota is set for its sixth competitive season in the Hypercar era, demonstrating a long-term commitment to the sport and utilizing strategic homologation jokers for continuous development.
