The Interlagos circuit has changed a lot since 2014, the last time the FIA World Endurance Championship ran there. The infrastructure has been modernised and the track has been completely resurfaced, and has become abrasive and demanding for the tyres, especially on the right sides. A factor to take into account for the race and the pit stops. Interlagos is also one of the few circuits that runs counter-clockwise.
The cars went out on track for the first time Friday for the first Free Practice session. The #87 was running and fine-tuning their setup, but the #78 saw its progress come to an abrupt halt. Arnold Robin went off the track at Turn 4, following an incident with his car, and was unable to avoid a violent impact with the barriers. He was extracted from the car and the medical team took charge, bringing him to the hospital for a complete check-up, where he reemerged shortly after with no injuries to report. Unfortunately, the damage to the #78 Lexus RC F GT3 would be too much to fix in time for the race and they had to retire from the rest of the event.
The second free practice session went better for the team with José María López setting the best lap time with 1'35''725. In the third and final session, there was a light spot of rain. The weather was rather gloomy with 87% humidity and 15°C. At the end of a highly disputed session, the #87 finished with the 12th best time.
In Qualifying, as per the regulations, it was up to the Bronze driver, Takeshi Kimura, to drive. The Japanese driver, now used to the exercise, set the 15th time. They did not make the Hyperpole, but the competition on track was fierce and the gaps were tiny.
The start of the race was given on Sunday by the end of the morning. The weather had radically changed compared to the previous day. The overcast skies made way for sunshine and blue skies. It was not too warm either, just a pleasant 21°C.
Managing his start, Takeshi Kimura got out of the pack without any damage and was sitting P12 after 8 laps. After the first quarter of an hour, a brief Full Course Yellow appeared, following a light contact between the #87 and the #54 that left some debris on track. After the single relay, Takeshi handed the car over to Esteban Masson.
Very assertive and precise in his attacks, Esteban wasted no time in regaining positions and closing the gap. Setting great lap times, the Frenchman had an exemplary stint and climbed into P7. After the second hour of racing, he was in the Top 5 (P24 overall). That 5th position was highly contested and the battle carried on. Attacked by the #46 and the #59, the confrontation was intense. But the degradation of the tyres on this abrasive track disrupted the end of the stints, making the car's behaviour more complex.
Heading back to the pits one lap earlier than the end of his double stint, Esteban Masson handed the wheel over to José María López in 7th position.
After a few laps, Pechito López came back into the race and at the half-way point he was 5th. The fight continued with the #46 and the #59, giving rise to some great battles. Completing his double stint, with a little less than two hours to go, the Argentinian passed the car over to Takeshi Kimura. The Japanese driver was in the car for an hour, completing another single stint.
It was up to Esteban Masson to complete this Brazilian 6-hour race. Still just as combative, the Frenchman could not make up the gaps that had formed, but kept up a sustained pace. Crossing the line in P11, the #87 Lexus finished just outside the points. It was quite a frustrating result following the performances during the race.
After a few weeks off, the championship will return to the American continent, but this time to the USA, to the circuit in Austin. This will be another first for the Akkodis ASP Team. See you in Texas on the 31st of August and the 1st of September!