If you’re an F1 fan heading to COTA for Lone Star Le Mans, you might recognize a few names on the grid. But WEC is a whole different kind of racing, and there are some seriously fun storylines to watch when the green flag drops.
Here are five drivers I’ll be keeping an eye on at Lone Star Le Mans.
5 Drivers to Watch at Lone Star Le Mans 2026
1. Kamui Kobayashi — Toyota
If you know F1, you probably remember Kamui Kobayashi. He raced in Formula 1 from 2009 through 2012, and then again in 2014. His most memorable F1 moment came at the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix when he finished third, giving him his only F1 podium (doing it at Suzuka in front of his home crowd)!
After leaving F1, Kobayashi made the move into endurance racing, eventually becoming one of Toyota’s key drivers in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
As part of Toyota’s No. 7 team, he’s right in the middle of the championship fight. Oh, and he and his teammates just won the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Basically, if you see a Toyota battling for the lead, pay attention. There’s a very good chance Kobayashi is behind the wheel.
2. Kevin Magnussen — BMW
Yep, that Kevin Magnussen. The former Haas F1 driver has made the jump to endurance racing with BMW, and honestly, it’s pretty fun seeing him still on a track.
Magnussen drives BMW’s No. 15 M Hybrid V8 with Raffaele Marciello and Dries Vanthoor. The team is coming off a win in São Paulo, so BMW has some serious momentum heading into COTA.
For F1 fans who are new to WEC, Magnussen is probably one of the easiest drivers to root for.
3. Brendon Hartley — Toyota
Brendon Hartley is another driver who deserves a spot on your radar, especially when you’re watching at COTA. Why? He has won here three years in a row.
Hartley won the WEC race at COTA in 2015, 2016 and 2017, so he clearly knows his way around this track.
He’s also part of Toyota’s No. 8 Hypercar team, which means there’s a pretty good chance we’ll see him fighting at the front.
4. Dries Vanthoor — BMW
You may not know his name yet, but you probably will after watching WEC for a while.
Dries Vanthoor is one of BMW’s rising stars and is part of the No. 15 car that won the most recent WEC race in São Paulo.
He’s also racing alongside Magnussen, so if you’re following BMW at COTA, keep an eye on Vanthoor, too. He’s fast, aggressive and definitely not afraid to mix it up.
5. Ricky Taylor — Cadillac
Ricky Taylor is a big name in American sports car racing, and Cadillac is bringing him into the No. 12 V-Series.R for the Austin race.
Taylor is a two-time IMSA champion, so he knows endurance racing. He also knows COTA. That combination could make him a very interesting driver to watch, especially with Cadillac coming off a podium finish in São Paulo.
Plus, I love seeing an American driver get thrown into the mix for a race at home.
Keep an Eye on Nyck de Vries
OK, technically he didn’t make my top five. But if you’re coming to Lone Star Le Mans as an F1 fan, you should know who Nyck de Vries is. He raced for Williams in 2022, stepping in for Alex Albon. He also raced for AlphaTauri in 2023. Now, he races for Toyota as part of the No. 7 crew that won Le Mans this year.
Why This Race Is Worth Watching
One of the best things about WEC is that you don’t necessarily have to know every driver or understand every technical detail to have a good time.
There are multiple classes racing at the same time, drivers are sharing cars, and the race lasts six hours. That means there is A LOT of action. Learn more about how things work here.
And with Toyota and BMW separated by just a handful of points heading into Austin, there’s a pretty good chance Lone Star Le Mans is going to get interesting.
Lather up your sunscreen, grab a drink and pick a car (or driver) to follow. You’ll figure out the rest pretty quickly.
