Free Practice and Qualifying – Hypercar

The focus during Friday’s pair of free practice sessions was on developing the best setup and finding the optimum car balance for the notoriously challenging Fuji circuit. Track temperatures were relatively high – averaging around 35 degrees – and, with the front-left particularly punished in the medium to high-speed second sector and the tighter final sector, tyre management was crucial. The drivers initially complained of a lack of general balance with the SC63, but the #63 was competitive in the last sector, often matching the faster cars in the slow-speed part of the track, while long-run race pace gradually became more consistent versus rival teams. Qualifying then produced an historic breakthrough result for the Lamborghini SC63 as Kvyat posted a time of 1m29.721 to make it into the top 10 Hyperpole shootout for the first time. In the 10-minute grid-setting session, Kvyat posted the SC63’s fastest time of the weekend, a 1m29.582 which was good enough for ninth on the grid, just 0.681s off pole position, the smallest deficit to the front of the field for the car in qualifying all season.

Race – Hypercar

From the start, Mortara suffered minor contact with a Ferrari as the field jostled for position at turn one, with the #63 dropping to the back of the Hypercar grid after briefly going off-track at turn three. A multi-car incident at turn one on the following lap, however, allowed Mortara to move back into the top 10, but heavy tyre degradation throughout the stint contributed to the car dropping back down the order ahead of the first round of pit-stops. Mortara stayed in the car for a double stint, and it was in the second hour that the SC63 performed far better in race trim, the tyres delivering more grip and stability than they did in the first. The #63 was often involved in on-track battles and passed the #93 Peugeot with which it was running closely for the bulk of the race. A 10-second penalty was applied to the car following the first stop, but this didn’t stop the #63 from leading a WEC race for the first time ahead of the second stop. Kvyat then took over and kept the car in 13th position before a drivetrain issue in the final sector of the lap ground the car to a stop with just over 90 minutes remaining. The retirement was a bitter disappointment for the Lamborghini Iron Lynx team which had enjoyed one of its most competitive showings in the WEC all season.

Free Practice and Qualifying – LMGT3

The opening day of practice began quietly for the #85 Iron Dames, ending up 13th quickest in FP1 and 15th in FP2. Bovy completed a 15-lap stint race simulation in the second session, lapping consistently, proving the performance of the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2. As the Bronze-rated driver, Bovy was again at the wheel for qualifying and made it through Hyperpole for the sixth time in seven races with the third quickest time. Such are the fine margins in the LMGT3 class, the #85 ended up fourth on the grid, just under 0.4s off pole. The #60 enjoyed a positive Friday with Cressoni and Perera each impressing as Schiavoni got himself up to speed. The car was fourth in FP1, third in FP2, while Schiavoni did well to bridge the gap to the fastest qualifying time, just over two seconds off the pace in 18th.

Race – LMGT3

The #85 maintained its fourth position in the early stages, with Bovy completing a double stint and keeping good pace with the leading cars in front. Contact between the pair of McLarens allowed the #85 up into third before Bovy went on the attack of the #59, eventually taking second on the entry to turn one just before the first stops. Having utilised a virtual safety car period to pit early in the second stint, Bovy handed over driving duties to Frey who duly took the lead of the race with a move to the inside of the McLaren at the final corner. Agonisingly for the Dames, they pitted for the penultimate time shortly before the virtual safety car period following the #63’s stoppage, meaning Gatting lost track position. A spirited drive in the final two stints ensured the #85 finished fifth, narrowly missing out on fourth following a lively scrap with the #81 Corvette. The #60 Huracán finished 13th after going slightly off-sequence in the pit-stops at the mid-way point, a strategy which brought them into the mix for points before slipping back after the final stop.