Ferrari finally broke its duck in the 2026 World Endurance Championship. With the No. 50 car driven by Nicklas Nielsen, Antonio Fuoco, and Miguel Molina, the Italian marque claimed its first win of the season at Lone Star Le Mans, Circuit of the Americas. For nearly six hours, victory seemed destined for Toyota.
The Japanese squad had been in control since mid-race with Nyck de Vries, Kamui Kobayashi, and Mike Conway. Starting from ninth, they carved through the field with a mix of strategy and pace. But with just 15 minutes left, the No. 7 Toyota GR010 suddenly slowed on track due to a hydraulic issue. Their comfortable lead evaporated, and Ferrari needed no second invitation to snatch the top spot.
This win feels especially sweet for Ferrari, which has often played second fiddle to Toyota this season. On the other side, the podium's second step belonged to the No. 38 Jota Cadillac driven by Jack Aitken, Sebastien Bourdais, and Earl Bamber. Alpine completed the rostrum in third with Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg, and Antonio Felix da Costa, after earlier serving a penalty.
The race itself was anything but ordinary. It started behind the safety car due to a damp track. After two extra formation laps, a dry line emerged and racing got underway. Antonio Giovinazzi, who started from pole in the No. 51 Ferrari, led early. But Miguel Molina in the No. 50 car was the early star, climbing from fifth to third, then taking the lead after an early pit stop.
Strategy diverged as the race progressed. Toyota employed an offset strategy with the No. 8 car, lifting Sebastien Buemi to second. However, trouble hit Ferrari when James Calado lost nearly half a minute after his engine failed to restart during a pit stop, allowing Cadillac to lead. A debris-related safety car then reset the field.
In the final hour, the No. 7 Toyota seemed untouchable. De Vries and his teammates managed the gap, until that hydraulic gremlin struck. Ferrari pounced and sealed an unexpected victory. The result reshuffles the championship picture, putting Ferrari firmly back in title contention.
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