Team Bolliger 2026: Setbacks failed to dampen their fighting spirit

For the Swiss Bolliger team, the 2026 season in the Endurance World Championship (EWC) was a rollercoaster ride. Even before the first race had started, the long-established team was facing an existential challenge. On the track, a strong start was followed by several setbacks. In the end, Bolliger finished 9th in the overall World Championship standings.

“It was a difficult season for us right from the start,” explained team boss Kevin Bolliger in an exclusive interview with SPEEDWEEK.com. “We had the lorry accident even before the season began. The season got off to a bad start. At one point, we didn’t know whether or how we would be able to carry on.”

On 6 February, the team had gone public with the details of the serious accident. On the return journey from test sessions in Valencia, the articulated lorry had crashed, overturned and slid down an embankment. The team subsequently needed a new racing trailer.

A fundraising campaign helped to cope with the financial consequences, and Bolliger also received support from the Austrian Yamaha works team, YART. The fact that the Swiss team were able to compete in the entire EWC season despite this difficult starting position was by no means a foregone conclusion.

Der neue Auflieger vom Team Bolliger

Foto: Bolliger

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Strong start to the season at Le Mans

From a sporting perspective, the year got off to a promising start. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Bolliger, alongside Nico Thöni, Alex Toledo and Ville Valtonen, secured a strong sixth place. “We had a strong start to the season at Le Mans. That was a very good, solid race from us,” Bolliger recalled.

The team had already made an important change to its line-up before the start of the season. Bolliger signed Xavi Artigas, a former Grand Prix winner who was also competing in the World Superbike Championship in 2026. Due to a clash of dates with the World Superbike Championship round at Assen, the Spaniard was unable to take part in the EWC opener at Le Mans. Ville Valtonen took his place.

Das Team Bolliger Switzerland erlebte einen guten Start in die EWC 2026

Foto: Team Bolliger Switzerland

It was not until the second race of the season at Spa-Francorchamps that the planned trio of Thöni, Toledo and Artigas lined up together on the grid for the first time. “We travelled to Spa well prepared. From Spa onwards, Xavi was also part of the team – so our trio was complete,” reported the team boss. However, the 8-hour race in Belgium turned out to be yet another test of endurance.

Serious crash at Spa, return to Suzuka

“We had a good race at Spa until Nico had a serious crash,” recalled Bolliger. “I’m still very grateful that he wasn’t hurt in the crash. Conditions were generally difficult for everyone involved.” Despite the setback, the team still managed to finish in tenth place and pick up more World Championship points.

Next on the programme was a special event: the Suzuka 8 Hours. Bolliger had last competed at the historic Japanese circuit in 2019. For most of the current team, the event was therefore a first.

“That was a highlight for everyone in the team. One mechanic and I were the last members of the team who were there in 2019 when we last raced there,” explained Bolliger. “Over the years, the team has become much younger. Consequently, it was the first time at Suzuka for the new members of the team – a lovely reward.”

The team principal was also satisfied with the preparations from a sporting perspective. In the race, however, the changeable track conditions prevented a better result. “We had a great week at Suzuka, including from a sporting point of view. Unfortunately, the weather affected the race and threw a spanner in the works,” explained Bolliger.

Tyre choice, in particular, posed difficulties for the team. “We were strong in the dry. If the last three corners hadn’t been so wet, we could have capitalised on the advantage of the Pirelli intermediate tyres. But as it was, it wasn’t drivable.”

Bolliger therefore had to opt for wet tyres, like the other teams, which brought significant disadvantages on the dry sections of the track. “We had to race through to the end on the wet tyres. It was very difficult on the dry sections with these tyres. We managed to score points, but we didn’t secure the result that would have been possible.” Finishing 16th overall and scoring five World Championship points, the return to Japan was not, however, without its rewards.

Why Bolliger sent his regular rider home

Ahead of the season finale at the Bol d’Or, the team boss had to make another personnel decision. Nico Thöni was unavailable this time – though for a happy reason: the Swiss rider had become a father. “We’d known this for a while and had hoped the baby would arrive earlier than planned,” explained Bolliger. “But as the race drew nearer, I told Nico that he should stay at home, because you only get to experience the birth of your first child once.”

For the team boss, it wasn’t just the sporting situation that was decisive. “I didn’t want to be the reason he missed this event. We decided together that Nico should stay at home.” The search for a replacement rider proved difficult. Due to simultaneous events in the Italian CIV Championship and the Spanish CEV, numerous potential candidates were already committed elsewhere.

Alex Toledo mit Teamchef Kevin Bolliger

Foto: Bolliger

In the end, Bolliger opted for Kylian Nestola, who competed in the French 24-hour classic alongside Alex Toledo and Xavi Artigas. “We gave Kylian the chance. He made the most of it and improved with every session. He did a good job,” said Bolliger, praising the new recruit.

The team went into the final race of the year feeling confident as a result. But once again, luck was not on their side. “We started the Bol d’Or week full of enthusiasm. We were confident going into the race. Alex got off to a very good start,” recalled Bolliger. “But it wasn’t to be; we had to retire due to a connecting rod bearing failure.” The technical fault meant a premature end to the season finale. “We’ll need to investigate that in more detail,” explained the team boss.

Ein Pleuellager-Schaden zwang das Team Bolliger zur Aufgabe

Foto: Team Bolliger Switzerland

New motorbike and restructuring for 2027

Despite the numerous setbacks, Bolliger’s assessment of the season is by no means entirely negative. The team boss emphasises, above all, what his team has achieved under difficult circumstances. “All in all, it was a good season for us. We’re raring to go for next year and want more!”

An important step has already been taken: the new race trailer is now available. Bolliger expressly thanks all the supporters who helped out following the accident in February. “We now have a new race trailer. I’d like to thank everyone for that, including SPEEDWEEK.com, who helped us with their coverage.”

Changes are also on the horizon for 2027 on the sporting front. Alongside organisational changes, the Swiss team is planning to field a new motorbike. “We have lots of things planned; there will be restructuring and a new motorbike,” revealed Bolliger. “I’m confident that we’ll have a really strong package.”

When it comes to the rider line-up, however, continuity is the stated aim. A final decision is still pending. “I can’t say anything yet about the riders, but our aim is to carry on with the existing riders.”

After a season that almost got off the rails even before the first race, Team Bolliger is once again looking ahead with optimism. With new equipment and a further-developed team, the Swiss are aiming to build on the strong performances they showed at Le Mans and, at times, in the other EWC rounds in 2027.