The 6 Hours of Fuji proved to be one of the most eventful races of the year so far with LMP2 battles for the lead providing much of the action. The number 26 G-Drive Racing Ligier converted pole position into a win using just two sets of Dunlop tyres for the whole race with the intermediate set being used for over four hours to race 622km before changing onto slick tyres for the remaining laps.
The race began in wet conditions with an extensive safety car period, due to the conditions, leading to a variety of strategies depending on pit-stop timings. The majority of Dunlop teams opted to start on the intermediate tyre, improved for 2015 to operate from a very wet through to dry track.
After the safety car period the #26 G-Drive held the lead until the Sard Morand squad took over in the Morgan Evo Sard, who were then usurped by the Signatech Alpine. KCMG’s first spell in the lead with the Oreca 05 Nissan took place on lap 36 after which a further 11 lead switches took place. Ultimately the #26 G-Drive Racing car led the most laps with 88, closely followed by KCMG on 71 laps, the Hong Kong based squad retiring from third after an incident with the #28 G-Drive car just minutes from the end of the race, #28 crossing the line in third. Signatech Alpine had their most successful points haul of the season with second place and led 33 of the 198 laps.
The result moves the #26 G-Drive Ligier of Roman Rusinov, Sam Bird and Julien Canal into the championship lead just 12 points ahead of the KCMG team of Matt Howson, Richard Bradley and Nick Tandy.
The next round, the 6 Hours of Shanghai, takes place in China on 1st November.
Mike McGregor, Manager Testing & Track Support, Race Design & Development
“G-Drive’s win using just two sets of tyres for the 6 hour race was a great achievement with most of the teams pushing hard on intermediates which have proved more versatile than ever. Sam Bird put in a great stint of 76 laps and it’s great that his season with us has led to him being one of the three drivers selected for the LMP1 rookie test at the end of the season, Le Mans winning Mitch Evans, also a Dunlop driver, being one of the others.
“This was a race that showed how well we’ve got the tyres working across multiple chassis and drivers. Sard Morand had a good race until an incident set them back with Chris Cummings making a great debut. Pipo Derani [28 G-Drive] drove a good stint setting times two seconds a lap faster than the other LMP2 cars on track with Strakka’s Nick Leventis also showing great pace. Scott Sharp also had a strong race setting the third fastest LMP2 driver time and setting the fastest ten-lap average towards the end of the race on slick tyres.”