LE MANS, France (AP) — Toyota bested BMW and Cadillac in a close, race-long fight to win the Le Mans 24-hour race for the sixth time Sunday in global endurance racing's showpiece event.
The No. 7 Toyota of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries had been a distant fourth Sunday morning but Kobayashi seized his chance when the safety car bunched up the field with six hours remaining.
Kobayashi delivered a series of fast laps to surge into the lead and the team controlled the pace after that for Toyota’s first win since a run of five in a row ended in 2022.
“Even in the first couple of hours we thought it wasn’t looking good,” Conway said before joining De Vries and Kobayashi for celebrations atop the car. “We just stuck in there.”
Ferrari had won the last three Le Mans 24-hour races but didn't come close this year, with its best car fifth.
The BMW team of Sheldon van der Linde, Robin Frijns and Rene Rast was second, missing out on what would have been the German manufacturer's first win since 1999.
The No. 8 Toyota of Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa led through Saturday evening before dropping back in the night, and placed third.
Cadillac was in the fight for a first win through to Sunday morning. It eventually had to settle for fourth for its No. 12 crew of Louis Deletraz, Will Stevens and Norman Nato after Cadillac's other two entries hit trouble overnight.
The Inter Europol team of Tom Dillmann, Jakub Smiechowski and Nick Yelloly won the LMP2 class, while Nicky Catsburg, Jonny Edgar and Ben Keating won the GT3 class in a Corvette.
Former F1 Academy champion Doriane Pin was in the lead of the LMP2 class Sunday morning and on course for a landmark win for a female driver, alongside teammates Julien Andlauer and Richard Verschoor, but a brake failure ended her team’s challenge later in the day.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Cadillac Hertz Team Jota car (starting no.12) a Cadillac V-Series.R with Louis Delétraz of Switzerland, Will Stevens of Britain and Norman Nato of France, compete during the 24-hours Le Mans endurance auto race, Saturday June 13, 2026 in Le Mans, western France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez)
BMW M Team WRT car (starting no.20) a BMW M Hybrid V8 with Robin Frijns of The Netherlands, René Rast of Germany and Sheldon Van Der Linde of South Africa during the 24-hours Le Mans endurance auto race, Saturday June 13, 2026 in Le Mans, western France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez)
Toyota Racing team car (starting no.7) a Toyota GR010 Hybrid with Mike Conway of Great Britain, Kamui Kobayashi of Japan and Nyck de Vries of The Netherlands during the 24-hour Le Mans endurance auto race, Saturday June 13, 2026 in Le Mans, western France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez)
MONTMELO, Spain (AP) — Lewis Hamilton won his first race since joining Ferrari two years ago while Formula 1 leader Kimi Antonelli broke down at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on Sunday.
Hamilton increased his record win haul to 106 career victories with his first since the Belgian GP in July 2024 while he was still with Mercedes.
The seven-time world champion took advantage of fresher tires and a superior pitstop strategy by Ferrari to overtake the pole-sitting George Russell, who finished second.
Antonelli had passed his Mercedes teammate Russell when his car came to a stop on the track with just four laps to go. He had won five races in a row.
Hamilton broke Mercedes’ grip on the top spot of the podium this season, which had lasted six races.
“Thank you so much to help me achieve this dream,” Hamilton told his team radio. “Thank you for everyone pushing so hard at home, thanks to my family, and to my fans who continue to remind me who I am. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
He then stood on his car, pumped his fist and sprinted to leap into the arms of his thrilled engineers and pit crew members.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Mercedes drivers George Russell, left, of Britain and Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy steer their cars during the Spain F1 Grand Prix race at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the Spain F1 Grand Prix race at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the Spain F1 Grand Prix race at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during qualifying session for the Spain F1 Grand Prix at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (Manaure Quintero/Pool Photo via AP)
From left: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain, and Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy celebrate after qualifying session for the Spain F1 Grand Prix at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain celebrates his pole position after qualifying session for the Spain F1 Grand Prix at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain returns to the pits after session for the Spain F1 Grand Prix at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (Manaure Quintero/Pool Photo via AP)
