Electric Cars

The qualifying segment for the Fuji 6 Hours World Endurance Championship event has been called off due to extreme rainfall and hazardous track conditions. This decision was made after initial attempts to proceed were quickly halted by safety concerns. Consequently, starting positions for Sunday's main race will be determined by the times recorded during the earlier practice sessions.

Alpine Clinches Pole Amidst Weather Chaos at Fuji Speedway

On Saturday afternoon, a fierce downpour descended upon Fuji Speedway, dramatically altering the landscape for the World Endurance Championship's Fuji 6 Hours event. Despite an uneventful final practice session conducted in wet conditions, a sudden intensification of rain moments before the scheduled qualifying rounds severely impaired visibility across the circuit.

The LMGT3 qualifying began precisely at 3 PM local time. However, mere sixty seconds into the session, a red flag was deployed after Francois Heriau, driving the #21 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3, experienced a significant crash at Turn 2. Following this incident and with no immediate signs of weather improvement, race control made the crucial decision to cancel all remaining qualifying sessions for both the LMGT3 and Hypercar categories.

In adherence to the established sporting regulations, the starting grid for Sunday's highly anticipated race will now be based on the cumulative best lap times achieved across the three preceding practice sessions. A substantial portion of the competing teams had already logged their fastest times during FP2 on Friday afternoon, prior to the track becoming too saturated for dry-weather tires on Saturday.

This unforeseen turn of events places the Alpine team in a formidable starting position. Victor Martins, behind the wheel of the #36 A424, recorded an impressive time of 1 minute 29.304 seconds in FP2, thereby securing pole position for the WEC's Japan round. Harry Tincknell, initially second-fastest in the #007 Aston Martin Valkyrie, will now commence the race from fourth place due to a two-place penalty incurred for a collision with the #27 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 during Saturday's FP3.

This adjustment promotes the #35 Alpine, piloted by Charles Milesi and Ferdinand Habsburg, to the second position, ensuring an all-Alpine front row. This marks a significant moment for the French manufacturer, echoing their triumph with the A424 LMDh at this very venue just a year prior. The #19 Genesis GMR-001, shared by Paul-Loup Chatin, Daniel Juncadella, and Mathieu Jaminet, will ascend to third place, marking the Hyundai Group brand's most favorable qualifying outcome to date.

The sister Genesis car, with its fastest practice lap set by Mathys Jaubert, will start in fifth, directly behind the penalized #007 Aston Martin. Both Aston Martin entries, including the #009 Valkyrie which posted the sixth-best practice time, are positioned advantageously. The #38 Jota Cadillac V-Series.R will occupy seventh place, followed by the #8 Toyota TR010. The top ten will be rounded out by the #93 Peugeot 9X8 and the #12 Cadillac.

Conversely, some front-runners in the championship standings will face a more challenging start. The #7 Toyota TR010 will line up in 13th position after Kamui Kobayashi was notably slower in practice, lagging over seven seconds behind the leading pace. BMW's strategy to conserve their cars during dry-weather practice, anticipating rain, has backfired with the cancellation of qualifying. The #20 BMW M Hybrid, which shares points leadership with the #7 Toyota, now finds itself at the very back of the Hypercar grid in 17th place. Ferrari, too, faces an arduous battle, with its top 499P entry starting in 11th.

In the LMGT3 class, pole position was awarded to the #77 Proton Ford Mustang GT3, thanks to Ben Tuck's best time in FP2. Lin Hodenius secured second place in the #79 Iron Lynx Mercedes, while Hadrien David placed third in the #78 Lexus. The current points leader, the #33 TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R, will begin its race from 10th in its class.

The cancellation of qualifying underscores the unpredictable nature of endurance racing and sets the stage for a compelling Fuji 6 Hours race, where strategic prowess and driver skill will be paramount in navigating the altered starting grid and potentially challenging race conditions.

Stoffel Vandoorne, a prominent figure in the racing world, is concluding his tenure with Peugeot's World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar team after the upcoming Fuji 6 Hours. This decision, driven by his impending return to Formula E with Jaguar, marks a significant juncture in his professional racing journey. Having previously experienced a brief hiatus from Peugeot before rejoining, this latest departure appears to be a definitive step towards his focus on electric racing.

Vandoorne's Strategic Shift from WEC to Formula E

In a recent announcement by Peugeot, it was confirmed that Stoffel Vandoorne's participation in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with their Hypercar squad will conclude following the Fuji 6 Hours race this weekend. This departure, initially expected at the season's end, has been fast-tracked as the Belgian driver prepares for his anticipated full-time engagement in Formula E, reportedly with Jaguar. This marks a clear strategic pivot in Vandoorne's career, prioritizing the all-electric championship.

Vandoorne's association with Peugeot saw him join in 2023 at Fuji as a temporary replacement for Nico Mueller, who was sidelined due to a collarbone injury. He transitioned into a full-time role the subsequent year, accumulating 18 races with the Paris-based team. His most notable achievement during this period was a third-place finish at Austin last year in the Hypercar category. Interestingly, this isn't the first time an early exit from Peugeot was on the cards for Vandoorne; a similar announcement was made over a year ago, only for him to return in 2026 after a potential move to Genesis in Formula E did not materialize. However, sources indicate that this current separation is firm, with an agreement reportedly reached with Jaguar to succeed Opel-bound Mitch Evans. A formal announcement from Jaguar is expected in the coming weeks, signaling Vandoorne's return to Formula E after a one-year break.

At Jaguar, Vandoorne is slated to partner with Antonio Felix da Costa. Da Costa himself might also miss the concluding two WEC events of 2026. He had rejoined Hypercar racing this year with Alpine but was omitted from the Fuji round as Alpine opted for a two-driver lineup. Alpine team principal Philippe Sinault, on Friday, hinted at da Costa's potential return for races in Barcelona and Monza but did not dismiss the possibility of continuing with two-driver crews. This period coincides with the lead-up to the new Gen4 era in Formula E, with pre-season testing scheduled for November 16-20 at Jarama, just a week after the WEC season finale in Italy. While Vandoorne has historically managed to juggle both Formula E and WEC commitments, it is unlikely he will seek a Hypercar role with another team next year. Peugeot has yet to disclose who will fill Vandoorne's seat for the remaining two rounds of the season. It is speculated that either Robert Shwartzman, a new signing for 2027, or reserve driver Alex Quinn could gain valuable race experience, as both are expected to assume full-time driving roles in a broader team reshuffle next year.

The transition of Stoffel Vandoorne from the demanding world of WEC Hypercar racing to the rapidly evolving landscape of Formula E highlights the dynamic nature of top-tier motorsport. His experience and talent will undoubtedly be a valuable asset to Jaguar, and his move underscores the growing prestige and competitive allure of electric racing. This career shift prompts reflection on the evolving priorities of drivers in modern motorsport and the strategic decisions teams make to align with future trends. It will be compelling to observe how Vandoorne's expertise translates into the Gen4 era of Formula E and the impact he will have on his new team's performance.