Alpine Secures First LMDh Victory in Thrilling Fuji 6 Hours Race
Alpine's Historic Win: A Masterclass in Endurance and Strategy
Alpine Triumphs in a Race of Unforeseen Challenges
The #35 Alpine A424 LMDh, piloted by Charles Milesi, Paul-Loup Chatin, and Ferdinand Habsburg, claimed a momentous victory at the Fuji 6 Hours. This win marks Alpine's initial success with their LMDh prototype in the World Endurance Championship. The race itself was a spectacle of chaos, punctuated by three safety car periods and five Full Course Yellow interruptions, demanding exceptional adaptability from all competitors.
Strategic Pitstop Decisively Secures the Lead
A pivotal moment arrived during the final pitstop sequence when Milesi opted for a swift two-tire change, a contrast to the four-tire strategy employed by the leading #93 Peugeot 9X8 and the #6 Penske Porsche 963. This bold decision granted him a crucial advantage, propelling the Alpine into a clear lead of almost eight seconds upon rejoining the track. Milesi then expertly extended this lead to eleven seconds in the closing hour, cementing their victory.
From Setback to Success: Alpine's Resilient Performance
Early in the race, Alpine's prospects seemed uncertain after Habsburg incurred a penalty for contact with the #8 Toyota GR010 HYBRID LMH, necessitating a nose change during the first pitstop. However, the team demonstrated remarkable resilience. A well-timed pitstop by Chatin, just before a Full Course Yellow transformed into a full safety car period, proved to be instrumental in their recovery and ascent through the ranks.
Intense Battles and Penalties Shape the Final Hour
Following the safety car period, Chatin held second place behind the Peugeot, but soon ceded position to a hard-charging Estre in the Porsche. Nevertheless, the Porsche later received a five-second penalty for a pitstop infraction, relegating it to third place in the final hour. Vanthoor, in the Porsche, relentlessly pursued Jensen's Peugeot, ultimately crossing the finish line a mere half-second behind, securing third place.
Porsche Strengthens Championship Bid, Ferrari Struggles
The strong performance by both Penske Porsches, with Mathieu Jaminet and Julien Andlauer securing fourth, significantly boosted Porsche's standing in the manufacturers' championship, keeping the title race alive ahead of the Bahrain finale. In contrast, Ferrari experienced a challenging day, with its drivers' points leaders failing to score. The #51 factory AF Corse 499P LMH, driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi, only managed to secure an eleventh-place finish, earning a single point for the team. Their race was marred by damage from a collision with a customer Porsche and two penalties for track limit violations.
Other Noteworthy Performances in the Hypercar Category
Stoffel Vandoorne, along with Loic Duval and Malthe Jakobsen, expertly navigated the second Peugeot to a fifth-place finish in the final hour. Aston Martin's #009 entry, shared by Marco Sorensen and Alex Riberas, secured sixth place after a mixed performance from their Valkyrie LMHs. The Jota Cadillac team, with Alex Lynn, Will Stevens, and Norman Nato in the #12 V-Series.R LMDh, finished seventh, having led early on before neutralizations impacted their advantage. The #7 Toyota GR010 HYBRID LMH, driven by Kamui Kobayashi, Nyck de Vries, and Mike Conway, secured eighth place, followed by the #20 WRT BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh. Le Mans winners Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye, and Phil Hanson in the #83 customer AF Ferrari finished tenth, gaining a crucial point on the #51 car's drivers in the standings.
LMGT3 Category Sees TF Sport Emerge Victorious
In the LMGT3 class, TF Sport's Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, driven by Charlie Eastwood, Rui Andrade, and Tom van Rompuy, clinched the victory. Despite Eastwood crossing the line second, a five-second penalty for the #21 AF Ferrari 296 GT3 for a pitstop infringement elevated the TF Sport entry to first place in its class.