The Fuji Speedway is not quite like any other circuit. With a breathtaking view on Mount Fuji, one of Japan’s three sacred mountains, it’s less than 200km away from Toyota City (and only 25km from Higashi-Fuji Technical Center). For the Japanese manufacturer, racing at Fuji is a symbolic exercise, but it's also a chance to get up close and personal with the Japanese fans, who are truly passionate about motorsports.
In regards to driving and technical constraints, the Fuji Speedway is incredibly demanding. Divided into three main sectors, it alternates between very fast and sinuous, where aerodynamics plays an important part, as well as slow climbs that require traction.
The first laps took place during the free practice sessions and already offered up some great prospects for the French team’s two Lexus. In FP1, the #78 was in the top 6 with Kevin Van der Linde (1:40.911) and Esteban Masson finished P11 in the #87. A few hours later, FP2 allowed José María Lopez (#87) to insert himself into the top 5 and the #78 was P8 with Clemens Schmid.
The following day, the morning started with the final practice session ahead of qualifying. Continuing its run, the #78 performed well once again, finishing with the third best time thanks to Arnold Robin.
The Qualifying sessions were passionate and very close. Rapidly finding their pace, the two Lexus set down good lap times. In the end, Arnold Robin (#78) qualified for the Hyperpole (second time this season). He confirmed his efficient approach to this track and skilfully bringing his tyres up to temperature for maximum exploitation, the Frenchman set the 6th best time in the Hyperpole.
By the end of Sunday morning (11h00), it was already 28°C outside, with the track temperature up to 40°C, and humidity approaching 70%.
After two formation laps to get the tyres and brakes up to temperature, the cars were released! The teams had to watch out for the traps at the start of the race and the toboggan effect of Fuji, where the start is all downhill and the third sector back uphill with its banked corners. While Arnold Robin (#78) and Takeshi Kimura (#87) in the two Lexus took a cautious approach to the start of the race, the pack at the front were much less so with a late ‘collective’ braking manoeuvre forcing the safety car to make its first appearance.
The restart did not cause any problems. Getting very quickly into the rhythm of the race, Arnold Robin placed himself in P8 and Takeshi Kimura P10. The gaps were close and the fight to hold positions began.
After the first hour, the two cars headed to the pits for refuelling and a first driver change. Kelvin Van der Linde relayed Robin in the #78 while Esteban Masson got in the #87. With no time wasted, the two drivers were on the move and fought to climb to P6 (#78) and P7 (#87). With less than 1h30 of racing completed, they were already faced with a Full Course Yellow and then a Virtual Safety-Car (still racing at 80km/h). Deciding on a staggered strategy, the two Lexus headed back to the pits and the two starting drivers (Robin and Kimura) took the wheel again. At the restart after this second safety car, Arnold Robin and Takeshi Kimura were once again running at an excellent pace. After a little more than two hours of racing, the #78 was P4 and the #87 P8.
In the next stint (with 3h40 to go), Clemens Schmid was at the wheel of the #78 and Esteban Masson was in the #87. The fighting was neck and neck and at the mid-way mark, the two Akkodis ASP Team Lexus were respectively P6 and P7. One hour later, Kelvin Van der Linde (#78) and Jose Maria Lopez (#87) were on track. The #78 climbed to P4 whereas the #87 drove at P8 due to a drive through penalty (for not respecting the track limits).
The third (and final) safety car, with 1h45 to go, was the occasion to change driver once more in the #78 with the return of Clemens Schmid (P10), while Jose Maria Lopez was P13. The last part of the race, after this ultimate restart, was nothing more than a 1h30 sprint. But the #87 got another penalty and had to take a second drive through penalty for not respecting the FCY procedure an hour earlier. As the final hour began, Schmid was fighting to get P5, while Lopez was P12.
With 50 minutes to go, the final driver change saw Kelvin Van der Linde (#78) and Esteban Masson (#87) get back in the cars. Climbing to P5, the South African had to give way in the last 20 minutes because of strong tyre degradation. Kelvin Van der Linde (#78) crossed the chequered flag in P11, just ahead of his teammate Esteban Masson (#87). Despite no points were scored, it was a great satisfaction to have taken part in the fight for the whole race.
In Bahrain on the 2nd of November, at the Sakhir circuit in Manama, the final round of the season will take place. The race will last 8 hours and will finish at midnight on this 5.4km track with its 15 corners…
