The 6 Hours of Imola showcased Toyota’s No. 8 car dominating on home turf, clinching a decisive victory over Ferrari. This marked the Japanese manufacturer’s 100th race in the World Endurance Championship, celebrated with a flawless performance. While Ferrari’s No. 51 secured pole position, the race revealed Toyota’s drivers’ mastery.
Ferrari’s Promising Start
Tension was palpable during qualifying, where Antonio Giovinazzi’s Ferrari No. 51 snagged pole position by a mere 11 thousandths over Toyota’s No. 8. This moment was hailed as the closest Hyperpole in championship history. The rest of the grid was dominated by Ferrari’s No. 50, closely followed by Peugeot’s No. 94, while Alpine’s No. 35 struggled to break into the top seven.
Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli gave the start. As the lights went out, both Ferraris reacted well, maintaining their lead positions. However, Brendon Hartley in the Toyota No. 8 wasn’t about to let them get away and stayed glued to the two red machines.
A Race Full of Twists
From the start, overtakes were rampant as cars joined the LMGT3. Loïc Duval’s Peugeot lost several positions, while Kevin Magnussen attempted a bold maneuver on Phil Hanson’s Ferrari No. 83. The opening laps were action-packed, and the Genesis GMR-001 No. 19, seeking its first points in WEC, unfortunately faced technical issues by the twelfth lap.
After an hour of racing, Peugeot No. 94 struggled with rear tire issues and fell significantly behind Alpine No. 35. To attempt a strategic undercut, Toyota’s No. 7 dove into the pits as the pack began to stretch out.
The start of the 2026 6 Hours of Imola.
Strategies and Penalties
After the first round of pit stops, the standings at lap 38 were led by Ferrari No. 51, followed by Toyota No. 8 and Ferrari No. 50. However, a Virtual Safety Car disrupted team strategies when Lexus LMGT3 No. 87 suffered a mechanical failure.
As the laps progressed, Will Stevens in Cadillac No. 12 began to stir things up by temporarily taking third place. At this point, both Ferraris seemed well-positioned to battle for the podium.
The AF Corse Ferrari No. 83 of Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye, and Philip Hanson.
Leaders in Duel
As we entered the second hour of racing, the battle between Ferrari and Toyota raged on. Alessandro Pier Guidi managed to keep pace behind Brendon Hartley’s Toyota No. 8. But it was on lap 72 that things heated up: as the two leaders exchanged blows on track, penalties were handed to Ferrari for speeding under yellow flag conditions.
Simultaneously, a new Virtual Safety Car was deployed following a Peugeot No. 93 off-track incident. This setback for the drivers allowed Toyota to regain the lead as Ferrari served its penalties.
The Toyota TR010 No. 8 of Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa.
Changing Conditions and Final Battle
As the fourth hour approached, the sky threatened with light rain, but none of the competitors dared to switch to wet tires. The battle for the podium between Toyota and Ferrari continued with intensity. The duel between Toyota No. 8 and Ferrari No. 51 echoed the golden days of motorsport where every corner could be decisive.
In this final phase, pit stops became crucial. With about 50 minutes remaining, the last refuels took place. Ferrari No. 51 managed to gain ground but still trailed significantly behind Toyota No. 8, which seemed to have the race under control.
The Toyota TR010 No. 7 of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck De Vries.
Toyota Triumphs Authoritatively
Despite Alessandro Pier Guidi’s relentless efforts in the closing minutes to close the gap with Ryo Hirakawa in the lead, it was clear that Toyota had successfully imposed its pace and strategy throughout the 6 hours. The final victory went to Toyota No. 8, which triumphed brilliantly over the two official Ferraris.
Second place went to Ferrari No. 51, while Alpine No. 35 solidified its status with a strong fourth place. In contrast, several French cars finished far behind, with an Alpine A36 and two Peugeots ending up at the back of the pack.
The Genesis GMR-001 No. 17 of Andre Lotterer, Pipo Derani, and Mathys Jaubert.
In Summary
- Toyota wins the 6 Hours of Imola decisively.
- Ferrari finishes second after securing pole position.
- Strategic penalties influenced the final standings.
- Alpine No. 35 finishes fourth in this fierce battle.
- Technical issues for several teams changed the course of events.
