Toyota Returns to the Top at Le Mans

Toyota secured a hard-fought victory in the 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (13–14 June), ending a four-year wait for success at Circuit de la Sarthe. After an intense battle with BMW and Cadillac, the Japanese manufacturer claimed victory in one of the closest finishes in FIA World Endurance Championship history, with just 10.913 seconds separating first and second place.

Starting from 14th and 15th on the Hypercar grid, Toyota used an alternative strategy early in the race to move into contention. The #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid of Brendon Hartley, Ryō Hirakawa, and Sébastien Buemi led much of the challenge, while the sister #7 car recovered from a puncture and technical issues to rejoin the fight.

A safety car period on Sunday morning reshuffled the order and set up a thrilling battle between both Toyotas, the #12 Cadillac, and the #20 BMW. Strong pace from Kamui Kobayashi and decisive overtakes by Nyck de Vries helped the #7 Toyota gain the advantage in the closing stages.
Kobayashi crossed the finish line first, delivering Toyota’s 51st FIA WEC victory and moving the manufacturer to the top of both the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ championships.

BMW’s #20 entry, driven by Robin Frijns, René Rast, and Sheldon van der Linde, finished second, securing the brand’s first overall Le Mans podium since 1999. The #8 Toyota completed the podium, while Cadillac’s challenge was affected by penalties and technical setbacks.

The FIA WEC season continues with the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo on 10–12 July.

As an accredited photographer at Le Mans, I had the opportunity to capture the atmosphere, emotion, and intensity of one of the world’s most iconic motorsport events from up close. From dramatic on-track action to the stories unfolding behind the scenes, moments like these show the power of strong visual storytelling.