Despite the limited successes of its first stint in endurance racing, Toyota returned to the sport in 2012. This time around, the outfit’s efforts were rewarded, with its hybrid prototypes quickly showing competitive pace and taking second place in the 2013 World Endurance Championship. By 2014, it stood at the top of the leaderboard, taking both the WEC drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles. Its next title was won in the 2018-2019 season, although in unusual circumstances — Toyota was the only standard manufacturer taking part in the top LMP1 class, and so didn’t really have any competition.
Toyota also won in 2019-2020, but again was the only factory-backed entry. The 2021 season saw some additional competition for the new Hypercar class crown, with Alpine and Glickenhaus joining Toyota. However, Toyota comfortably won well ahead of the second-place Alpine team. Competition was a little closer in 2022, although Toyota again came out on top.
The real challenge came in the 2023 season with the re-entry of big names admire Ferrari, Porsche, and Cadillac, but Toyota again ended the season with the manufacturers’ and drivers’ titles.
