24h Le Mans
The FIA World Endurance Championship will make a stop in Asia for the 6 Hours of Fuji, the seventh of eight rounds on this season's calendar. The three-way battle between Toyota, Porsche and Ferrari for the championship title is sure to see sparks fly on the track!
The 2024 6 Hours of Fuji is scheduled on the heels of Lone Star Le Mans won by AF Corse's #83 Ferrari 499P. This unique 4,563-km circuit is located approximately 100 km from Tokyo and boasts a stunning 1.5-km straight, fast corners and several serpentine sections. This particular race is one of the most emblematic on the calendar with Mt. Fuji serving as a breathtaking backdrop to throngs of wildly enthusiastic Japanese fans.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will be looking to dominate at home and extend its series of nine wins at this circuit. At Lone Star Le Mans, the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid reached the second step on the podium, earning the marque the top spot and an 11-point lead on Porsche in the provisional championship standings.
For Kamui Kobayashi (#7 Toyota driver), this race is especially significant:"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."
Despite a disappointing result at Lone Star Le Mans, André Lotterer/Kévin Estre/Laurens Vanthoor and Porsche Penske Motorsport retain the lead in the championship Lotterer feels highly motivated going in to this round."It was the first race weekend this year where not everything went perfectly. Despite that, we earned some important points. We’re still leading the drivers’ championship. Next up is Fuji. I’ve spent many years in Japan, so it’s a home race for me."
Third at Lone Star Le Mans is AF Corse's #50 Ferrari 499P, currently third in the championship, trails Toyota by only 19 points. Antonio Fuoco:"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." 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. his 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."
1. Toyota – 147 points
2. Porsche – 136 points
3. Ferrari – 128 points
4. Alpine – 37 points
5. BMW – 31 points
In the LMGT3 category, Manthey PureRxcing is on its way to securing the title with the #92 Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 thanks to a 28-point lead on Manthey EMA's #91 Porsche. The #92 is a favourite to win at Fuji, but Heart of Racing's #27 Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3 proved virtually untouchable at Lone Star Le Mans.
Qualifying and the 2024 6 Hours of Fuji will be streamed live on the official FIA WEC app. Qualifying is set for Saturday at 07:20 local time. The start of the race will be given on Sunday 15 September at 02:00 (GMT).
Click here for the 2024 6 Hours of Fuji entry list.
