In a thrilling and unpredictable Fuji 6 Hours race, Toyota Gazoo Racing executed a brilliant strategic maneuver in the final moments to seize a remarkable home victory in the World Endurance Championship, edging out pre-race favorites Alpine. This triumph, spearheaded by drivers Ryo Hirakawa, Brendon Hartley, and Sebastien Buemi in their #8 Toyota TR010 Hybrid, showcased exceptional teamwork and quick thinking, particularly during a crucial late Virtual Safety Car period that allowed them to gain a decisive advantage through a shorter pitstop.
Alpine had initially appeared poised for a commanding performance, mirroring their success from the previous year, with their two A424 LMDh entries comfortably holding the top two positions after starting from the front row. However, the race's dynamic shifted dramatically in the final hour when a safety car intervention prompted teams to rethink their strategies. Toyota and BMW seized this opportunity, opting for a single-tire change during their pitstops, a gamble that propelled them up the standings.
Victor Martins, driving the #36 Alpine, launched an impressive charge after the race resumed with only 20 minutes remaining, climbing from fourth to second place, hot on the heels of Hirakawa's leading Toyota. Despite Martins' relentless pursuit, Hirakawa expertly defended his position, crossing the finish line a mere 0.591 seconds ahead, securing Toyota's third victory of the current season.
The race commenced at 11 AM local time with Jules Gounon in the #36 Alpine leading from pole, closely followed by his teammate Ferdinand Habsburg in the #35 Alpine. The Hypercar class saw a clean start, but an early multi-car collision in the LMGT3 category involving Francois Heriau's AF Corse entry necessitated the first safety car deployment. Following the restart, Nyck de Vries in the #7 Toyota TR010 suffered an unexpected puncture, forcing an unscheduled pit stop. This, however, inadvertently positioned de Vries in second place after other teams completed their scheduled pit stops, with Habsburg now leading. A close battle ensued between de Vries and Habsburg, culminating in a spin for de Vries after contact with the Austrian, restoring Alpine's 1-2 advantage, with the #007 Aston Martin Valkyrie emerging as their closest competitor.
Another safety car period was triggered in the second hour by a stopped GT3 car, leading to another pit lane shuffle where the Alpines once again swapped positions, with Martins regaining the lead. Though Martins initially built a lead, his used soft tires began to degrade in the third hour, allowing Habsburg to retake the lead. In the fourth hour, both Alpines were overtaken by the #007 Aston Martin, whose driver Tom Gamble moved into the lead through an undercut strategy. However, Gamble's lead was short-lived as he incurred a drive-through penalty for a pit lane infringement, allowing Alpine to reclaim the top positions.
The race's decisive moment arrived in the final hour with another neutralization, caused by a heavy crash involving a Garage 59 McLaren LMGT3. Both Toyota and BMW capitalized on this, performing swift pit stops by changing only one tire. This strategic decision catapulted the #8 Toyota from seventh to the lead, while the #35 Alpine moved into third. Despite a slower pit stop, the #36 Alpine, driven by Martins, displayed incredible pace, quickly dispatching the #009 Aston Martin and the #15 BMW to challenge Hirakawa for the lead in the closing laps. However, Hirakawa held firm, delivering a hard-fought victory for Toyota on their home ground, marking their first WEC win in Japan since 2023.
The Fuji 6 Hours race saw Toyota Gazoo Racing triumph in a dramatically unfolding event, skillfully navigating safety car periods and executing a crucial strategic pitstop to secure a narrow victory over Alpine. The #36 Alpine of Martins and Gounon finished third, with the #15 BMW securing the final podium spot. The #7 Toyota, despite a drive-through penalty, managed to finish eighth, taking the lead in the Hypercar standings, underscoring the team's resilience and competitive spirit throughout the challenging race.