Toyota fears “big gap” to rivals in Monza WEC after worst qualifying of 2026
Ryo Hirakawa is unsure whether even bold strategic calls will be enough to propel Toyota towards the front in the World Endurance Championship's Monza finale after a difficult qualifying session. Hirakawa admitted the Japanese manufacturer was simply “too slow” after the two TR010 Hybrids ended up 15th and 16th on the grid for Sunday’s race, only ahead of the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 of Dries ... Keep…
Toyota is concerned about a significant performance gap to rivals in the upcoming Monza WEC after a disappointing qualifying session that saw both TR010 Hybrids finish 15th and 16th on the grid. The Japanese manufacturer struggled to achieve any representative running on slick tyres during practice sessions due to persistent rain on Friday and Saturday morning.
Hirakawa admitted the team was "too slow" overall, highlighting that performance was lacking in both wet and dry conditions. Toyota's technical director, David Floury, attributed the team's struggles to a combination of underperformance and the car's inherent pace. Despite Toyota holding a 17-point lead in the standings, Hirakawa expressed uncertainty about his chances for the final round, emphasizing the need for car improvements.
He also stated that he wouldn't like to finish last and then clinch the championship, preferring to approach the final race as a preparation for next year.
Written by urgent.news from Motorsport.com's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
