Laurens Vanthoor delivered a stunning performance during the opening free practice session (FP1) for the 2024 WEC Fuji round, marking a pivotal moment in the championship race.
Driving the #6 Penske Porsche 963 Hypercar, Vanthoor clocked a blistering lap time of 1:30.561, placing Porsche firmly at the top of the time sheets and setting the stage for an exciting weekend of racing.
The Fuji Speedway, nestled at the foot of Japan’s majestic Mount Fuji, is renowned for its challenging layout and long straights, which allow drivers to fully exploit their cars’ capabilities.
This year, the 6 Hours of Fuji represents the seventh and penultimate round of the 2024 season, and the stakes are high as teams vie for crucial championship points.
With track temperatures soaring above 32 degrees Celsius and humidity levels reaching 80%, the conditions presented a unique challenge for all teams. As the session commenced, the atmosphere was electric, with teams eager to gather data and optimize their setups ahead of the race.
Vanthoor’s early lap time established a benchmark that his competitors would struggle to beat in a session was characterized by fierce competition, with the top twelve Hypercars separated by less than one second, underscoring the intense rivalry in the Hypercar category.
It was not long before the session was interrupted. Approximately 30 minutes in, there was a minor incident involving Frederic Makowiecki’s #5 Porsche and the #92 Manthey PureRxing Porsche 911 LMGT3.R, which resulted in slight debris on the track.
However, race control deemed no further action necessary, and the session continued. Drivers quickly adapted to the evolving conditions, with many exploring the limits of the track as they sought to maximize their lap times.
As the clock ticked down, the competitive landscape shifted dramatically when a red flag was waved with just 21 minutes remaining in the session. This was due to an incident involving Gregoire Saucy in the #59 McLaren 720S LMGT3 EVO, who made contact with the #2 Cadillac V-Series.R of Alex Lynn, necessitating recovery efforts.
The session resumed with only 14 minutes left, and Laurens Vanthoor’s earlier lap time remained unbeaten. The Belgian reeled off a 1:30.561 in the world championship-leading #6 Penske Porsche 963.
Meanwhile, Ryo Hirakawa finished a close second in the #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid, clocking a time of 1:30.571, just 0.010 seconds behind Vanthoor. This performance reaffirmed Toyota’s status as a formidable competitor, having dominated the WEC with nine victories at Fuji since the series’ inception.
Antonio Fuoco in the #50 AF Corse Ferrari 499P secured third place with a lap time of 1:31.104, showcasing Ferrari’s competitive edge as they continue to challenge for championship points.
The fourth and fifth positions were claimed by Frederic Makowiecki in the #5 Penske Porsche 963 and Nyck de Vries in the #7 Toyota, respectively, with times of 1:31.128 and 1:31.146. The session highlighted the tight competition among the leading manufacturers, with the top five all within striking distance of each other.
The #83 AF Corse Ferrari which won last time out at COTA took sixth in the hands of Yifei Ye, while Stoffel Vandoorne guided the #94 Peugeot 9X8 to a solid seventh ahead of Ferdinand Habsburg in the #35 Alpines A424.
The #12 Jota Porsche took ninth in the hands of Will Stevens as the #51 Ferrari driven by James Calado rounded out the top ten.
Cadillac finished a distant 12th with Earl Bamber ending up almost a second off the best time set by Vanthoor. The American marque separated the two BMW entries, the #15 car finishing ahead in 11th place.
Further down the order the #93 9X8 would slot in 16th, the car completing just 31 laps – the fewest in the class – after missing time early due to engine checks in its pit box. It finished ahead of #63 Lamborghini shared by Mirko Bortolotti, Daniil Kvyat and Edoardo Mortara and the #38 Jota Porsche.
In the LMGT3 category, home hero Marino Sato emerged as the fastest driver in the #95 United Autosports McLaren 720S LMGT3 EVO, setting a lap time of 1:40.528. This was a remarkable achievement for Sato, who was racing at Fuji for the first time.
He was closely followed by Alessio Rovera in the #55 VISTA AF Corse Ferrari, who matched Sato’s time down to the thousandth of a second, showcasing the competitive nature of the LMGT3 class.
As the teams prepare for the next practice sessions, the insights gained from FP1 would be invaluable. The competitive landscape is set, with Porsche, Toyota, and Ferrari all in contention for top honors.
The teams will need to leverage their data and insights to refine their strategies, ensuring they are well-prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.
2024 WEC Fuji FP2 is set to get underway at 3:30 p.m. local time (2:30 a.m. EDT).
