Sports · Motorsport · 1 hr ago
Toyota says BMW has an edge ahead of WEC’s Barcelona debut
The World Endurance Championship visits Barcelona for the first time this weekend, at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain.
BMW, Cadillac and Genesis tested there on 27 August, giving them track experience before the race.
Toyota could not arrange a test because its logistics were already committed elsewhere.
Toyota technical director David Floury says BMW is likely to have a performance advantage.
Toyota plans to use the simulator and make the most of free practice to prepare.
BMW says its test gave it a useful reference, but expects the race to be closely matched.
The Barcelona round is the penultimate race of the season, which is due to finish with a six-hour race at Monza on 8 November.
Toyota says BMW may have a performance advantage at the World Endurance Championship’s first race at Barcelona.
BMW, Cadillac and Genesis tested at the circuit on 27 August, while Toyota did not arrange a test there.
Toyota technical director David Floury said the team would use simulator work and free practice to prepare.
BMW motorsport boss Andreas Roos said the test gave his team a good reference but expected the field to be closely matched.
The Barcelona round is the penultimate race of the 2026 WEC season.
- Who
- Toyota and BMW, competing in the World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class.
- What
- Toyota says BMW may have a performance advantage at Barcelona after testing there.
- When
- The race is this weekend; the article was published on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain.
- Why
- BMW tested at the circuit, while Toyota could not arrange a test because of logistics.
Toyota
BMW
Effect of Barcelona test
Toyota
Toyota says BMW should have a performance advantage because it tested at the circuit.
BMW
BMW says the test provided a good reference but expects close competition.
Preparation
Toyota
Toyota says it could not organize a test because of logistics and will use the simulator and free practice to prepare.
BMW
BMW says its Barcelona test helped the team understand what to expect and what to work on.
BMW, Cadillac and Genesis ran their LMDh prototypes at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Toyota said it could not organize a test there and planned to prepare on the simulator.
The WEC is due to race at Barcelona for the first time, outside a Prologue test ahead of the 2019/20 season.
- Circuit length
- 4.56km
- Barcelona test
- 27 August
- WEC season
- 2026
- Race distance
- Six hours
- Season position
- Penultimate round
What people are saying
For sure, they [BMW] should have a performance advantage.
We were testing in Barcelona, so we have a quite good reference.
I'm happy that we went testing there.
Sources
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