In the 2026 World Endurance Championship, Toyota admits its lack of a Barcelona test gives BMW a performance edge.
BMW Gains Test Advantage
BMW, Cadillac and Genesis completed a full‑sprint session at the Circuit de Barcelona‑Catalunya on 27 August, running their LMDh prototypes along the complete Grand Prix layout to prepare for the penultimate WEC round.
Germany’s motorsport leader benefited from a concrete reference of the 4.56 km circuit, a track that the Hypercar field has never seen before. BMW Motorsport chief Andreas Roos said the test secured a valuable insight into the car’s behaviour, yet acknowledged other teams also ran at the venue and expected the field to stay tight.
Toyota Faces Testing Shortfall
Between the Sao Paulo and Austin races, Toyota was unable to schedule a comparable test, citing logistical clashes with its Brazilian commitments and the distance to Fuji.
Technical director David Floury noted, “When it was announced that Barcelona would be on the calendar, it was difficult to organise a test there because we had logistics already in Brazil on the way here. So, it was a bit difficult. We could not organise a test there.”
Driver Nyck de Vries echoed the sentiment, stressing that competitors who ran the track had a “slightly suboptimal” advantage, and that the lack of on‑track data was far from ideal for Toyota’s preparation.
Looking Ahead to Barcelona
BMW’s Sheldon van der Linde said the city’s high‑downforce layout was no mystery, but the day‑long test sharpened the WRT team’s understanding of both weaknesses and strengths, giving them “the right tools” for the race weekend.
Toyota will rely on simulator work and maximum free practice sessions to close the gap, but the team acknowledges that the blank slate on the Catalan circuit currently tilts performance in BMW’s favor. The championship will force the Japanese outfit to punch above its weight if it hopes to challenge its rivals on the new track.
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