With typically changeable weather conditions at Fuji International Speedway, the 6 Hours of Fuji was full of action and drama with Toyota and Aston Martin coming out on top at the end of the race.
The no8 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050-Hybrid led from pole position and, despite a drive through penalty for speeding in the pitlane, Sebastien Buemi took the chequered flag 33 seconds ahead of the no7 Toyota, with the no1 Rebellion Racing R13 completing the overall podium.
The LMGTE Pro category saw victory for Aston Martin Racing, with the no95 Vantage of Nicki Thiim and Marco Sorensen, the Danes keeping the following pack at bay before Thiim brought the car home to claim the first win of the 2019/20 season for the British manufacturer one lap ahead of the no92 Porsche 911 RSR-19 of reigning world champions Kevin Estre and Michael Christensen.
The no97 Aston Martine Racing Vantage of Alex Lynn and Maxime Martin took the third and final podium spot 24 seconds behind the Porsche.
The LMP2 victory went to the all Dutch Racing Team Nederlands team of Nyck De Vries, Giedo Van Der Garde and Frits Van Eerd. 2019 FIA Formula 2 Champion De Vries brought the car across the line 25 seconds ahead of the no38 JOTA Oreca of 2014 World Endurance Drivers Champion Anthony Davidson, setting a new LMP2 lap record by over 0.4 seconds along the way. The no37 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca finished third one lap behind the winning car after leading for the middle portion of the race.
However the no38 JOTA Oreca was found to be in breach of the LMP2 Technical Regulations in post race scrutineering. The outside neutral switch was unable to disconnect the transmission and was found to not be working as it is written in Art 11.3.2 of the LMP2 Technical Regulations. The car was disqualified (Stewards Decision No49). This promoted the no37 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca to second position and the no22 United Autosports Oreca-Gibson into third place.
It was a double victory for Aston Martin when the no90 TF Sport Vantage took a dominant victory in the LMGTE Am class. Jonny Adam took the chequered flag over a lap ahead of the no83 AF Corse Ferrari of Nicklas Nielsen to stand on the top step of the podium with teammates Salih Yoluc and Charlie Eastwood. The no57 Team Project 1 Porsche was third after starting at the back of the grid.
Round 3 of the 2019/20 FIA World Endurance Championship will be the 4 Hours of Shanghai on Sunday 10 November.
