Ferrari, Porsche and Toyota in Japan for win

WECHyperCar

Sep 13

The two weeks between the last race at Austin and the 6 Hours of Fuji is the tightest of the 2024 FIA WEC. This timeline puts additional pressure on the team and drivers with Toyota, Porsche and Ferrari eager to celebrate a victory at Fuji as they are still the three contenders for the Hypercar championships.

Despite being second at Lone Star Le Mans (COTA) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing nevertheless moves into the lead of the manufacturers’ World Championship heading into its home race, the 6 Hours of Fuji, with an 11-point advantage over Porsche as the Japanese team clinched the 25 victory points being the first manufacturer at Circuit of the Americas. Porsche was fourth behind Toyota, Ferrari and Alpine. Ferrari is 19 points behind Toyota ahead of the penultimate round.

Toyota leading the Endurance Manufacturer’s championship

The two Toyota Gazoo Racing GR010 Hybrid count now three wins this season: Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries won the 6 Hours of Imola and Lone Star Le Mans with #7 Toyota GR0101 Hybrid. Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Hirakawa clinched their first victory this season with sister car #8 at Interlagos.

As reigning World Champions, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has won nine of the ten WEC races in Japan since returning to top-level endurance racing in 2012, including a run of six consecutive victories since 2016, making Fuji Speedway the team’s most successful circuit.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Lone Star Le Mans 2024. Left: Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries with Toyota GR010 Hybrid #7. Right: Buemi-Hartley-Hirakawa in Toyota GR0101 Hybrid #8.

Last year’s Fuji winners Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi, alongside Nyck de Vries, aim for a second win of 2024 to strengthen their World Championship chances. The #7 GR010 HYBRID finished a close second in Austin following a late penalty and those points brought Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries back into world title contention, just 12 points behind the #6 Porsche crew. Mike Conway is playing a supporting role after missing Le Mans.

Kamui Kobayashi (Team Principal and driver, car #7): “Everyone in the team is looking forward to our home race. It is very important; after Le Mans, Fuji is the second most significant race of the season for us. As a Japanese driver and as a Japanese manufacturer, competing in Fuji is very important, plus it’s great to meet our Japanese fans. We have always been strong there and we have a fantastic record, with nine wins. Of course, we want to keep that successful run going in front of our fans, partners and colleagues.”

Mike Conway (Driver, car #7): “I really look forward to our home event, not just the race at Fuji, but to be there representing Toyota, which is pretty special. Japan is one of my favourite countries and Tokyo is one of my favourite cities, so it is great being there with our Japanese colleagues. We always have a good time there and I can’t wait for that. Fuji is also one of my favourite circuits; it’s a tricky circuit, especially the last sector. We are aiming to maintain our momentum and keep our winning streak going.”

Nyck de Vries (Driver, car #7): “We are obviously excited to be heading to our home race in Fuji. It is a very significant weekend for us in front of our home crowd as well as all our colleagues and partners in Japan. We will give them a warm welcome at the track and hopefully a performance to cheer. I have been to Fuji before and had some success in LMP2, but this is my first race there as a TOYOTA GAZOO Racing driver so I’m looking forward to the experience. We are approaching the end of the season, and the championship is getting tighter, so it will be another important race.” Source: Toyota Gazoo Racing

Estre-Lotterer-Vanthoor lead the Endurance Driver’s championship

Porsche count two wins ahead of the Fuji round. The Porsche Penske Motorsport team is 11 points behind Toyota in the Endurance Manufacturer’s Championship. Drivers Championship leaders Kevin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor won Qatar 1812, the first round, and #12 Hertz Team Jota Porsche 963 won the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps with Callum Illott and Will Stevens on board. Porsche is determined to reclaim the manufacturers’ championship lead at Fuji with a top result at the penultimate round of this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship WEC.

📷: © Luc Warnotte at Lone Star Le Mans 2024. Left: Estre-Lotterer-Vanthoor finished sixth with Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 #6. Right: Campbell-Christensen-Makowiecki in Porsche 963 finished seventh.

Kévin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor currently lead the FIA WEC drivers’ championship in the #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 thanks to five consecutive podium prior to the Austin round where they ended sixth.

Kévin Estre (Porsche 963 #6): “Japan is one of my all-time favourite countries. The culture is incredibly vibrant and the people are extremely nice. Then there’s the Fuji racetrack: We did very well there last season and climbed the podium – it was our best race of the WEC season. I’m confident that we’ll be strong again this year. After the difficult world championship race in Austin, we’re now determined to turn things around. The main goal is to defend our lead in the drivers’ championship and regain the lead in the manufacturers’ championship.”

Michael Christensen (Porsche 963 #5): “Every year I get excited about the race in Japan because I find the country and the people fascinating. We’re coming from the recent race in Austin where we didn’t achieve the desired results. Had we not experienced the early setback in Texas, a podium finish would likely have been possible. We now have to put this experience behind us and look ahead. We’re keen to rejoin the leaders in Japan and finish on the podium.” Source: Porsche

Ferrari, the challenger

With only the Fuji race and a season finale in Bahrain on 2 November remaining, the 24 Hours of Le Mans winning Ferrari - Af Corse Team is desperate to win the 6 hours of Fuji as they are now 19 points behind Toyota Gazoo Racing and 8 points behind Porsche Penske Motorsport..

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Lone Star Le Mans 2024. The #50 Ferrari AF Corse 499P driven by Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen and Miguel Molina.

The Ferrari – AF Corse #50 with Fuoco, Molina and Nielsen are third in the drivers’ championship, with the same number of points as Kobayashi and de Vries in the #7 Toyota, 12 points behind the #6 Porsche trio.

ANTONIO FUOCO: « Following our third-place finish in America, we’ll have to give our absolute best in Japan, as the battle for both the Driver’s and Manufacturer’s world championships remains wide open. We’ll be focused on a race that, as usual, I expect to attract huge numbers of motorsport fans, making the weekend all the more atmospheric. »

MIGUEL MOLINA: « I earned my maiden victory in the FIA WEC at Fuji with the Ferrari 488 GTE in 2017, triumphing in the LMGTE Am category. That’s a memory I really cherish. This year, the Fuji leg holds special significance for us, as it comes with just two races left in the season, and the points available are vital for us to keep alive our dreams of achieving something truly remarkable. »

NICKLAS NIELSEN: « The goal in Japan is to win as many points as possible. The race will be challenging, not only because the track isn’t the best fit for our car’s characteristics, but also due to the formidable competition. This year, though, as well as winning at Le Mans we have continued to improve and get to know the 499P, so we line up confident and ready to do our best. » Source: Ferrari

Schedule (local time, CEST +7)

Friday, 13 September
11:00 – 12:30 hrs: Free practice 1
15:30 – 17:00 hrs: Free practice 2

Saturday, 14 September
10:20 – 11:20 hrs: Free practice 3
14:20 – 14:32 hrs: Qualifying LMGT3
14:40 – 14:50 hrs: Hyperpole LMGT3
15:00 – 15:12 hrs: Qualifying Hypercar
15:20 – 15:30 hrs: Hyperpole Hypercar

Sunday, 15 September
11:00 – 17:00 hrs: Race