Toyota returned to winning ways in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) by clinching victory at the 6 Hours of Fuji with the #8 car driven by Ryo Hirakawa, Brendon Hartley, and Sebastien Buemi. The win was secured through a brilliant strategy executed by the team towards the end of the race, capitalizing on a safety car period to make a clever pit stop and snatch the lead from Alpine.
The race was fiercely contested from the start. Alpine, showing impressive pace with both A424 cars, led for a significant portion of the race and looked set to claim their first win of the season. However, a strategic miscalculation on the final pit stop under safety car allowed Toyota #8 to leapfrog both Alpine cars. Toyota opted to take less fuel than their rivals, enabling them to exit the pits quicker and hold the lead until the chequered flag.
This victory not only gave Toyota a home win but also propelled Hirakawa, Hartley, and Buemi to the top of the drivers' standings. Meanwhile, the #7 Toyota finished eighth, adding valuable points to move up to second in the standings. Toyota also strengthened their lead in the manufacturers' championship with two races remaining.
In the Alpine camp, disappointment was evident. They had shown promising speed and led much of the race but had to settle for second and fourth places. Their two-driver strategy proved insufficient against Toyota's tactics. Nevertheless, this strong performance could serve as a valuable asset in negotiations with Geely, which is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire the Alpine team, including the cars, and plans to enter the WEC in 2027.
Ferrari endured a difficult race at Fuji. The twisty circuit and the track conditions, which were damp from rain before the race, did not suit the characteristics of the 499P. Technical issues on the #50 car forced them to retire two hours before the finish, while the #83 and #51 had to settle for finishes outside the points. The #51 car even had to endure a very long pit stop due to a pneumatic system issue, further worsening their position.
With this result, Toyota edges closer to the world title, while Alpine must regroup quickly if they want to finish the season strongly. The next race will be a crucial test for all teams to demonstrate consistency and adaptability to varying conditions.
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