Toyota back on top at Le Mans after 24-hour thriller

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There was pure jubilation for Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries as they celebrated a monumental victory at the 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Sunday.

Sitting in pure jubilation atop their #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid, Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries delivered to Toyota Gazoo Racing their sixth overall win in the Le Mans 24 Hours, ending a three-year drought at La Sarthe.

The 2026 edition of the race proved to be a relentless, flat-out sprint from the green flag. Competing under baking sunshine against a fiercely competitive Hypercar field, the #7 crew overcame an early puncture and intense pressure from BMW and Cadillac.

Toyota’s strategic masterclass laid the groundwork for the triumph. Just 30 minutes into the race, the team executed a bold, early short-fuel undercut that disrupted their rivals' opening stint lengths and handed Toyota early control of the race order.

Despite a late-race track limits investigation for De Vries in the final hour, the team kept their composure.

After a grueling 381 laps of nonstop racing, the former F1 driver crossed the finish line to claim his maiden Le Mans title, securing the victory by a razor-thin 10.9-second margin over the #20 BMW M Team WRT of Robin Frijns, René Rast and Sheldon van der Linde, while the sister #8 Toyota completed the podium in third.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.