Alpine Triumphs in Thrilling 100th FIA WEC Race at Fuji
Fuji Speedway, Japan – The 100th race of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) unfolded on Sunday, culminating in a stunning victory for the Alpine Endurance Team. The #35 A424, driven by Charles Milesi, Ferdinand Habsburg, and Paul-Loup Chatin, marked its first Hypercar win since the 2022 6 Hours of Monza after a tactical gamble propelled it to the front in the final stages of the six-hour race.
The decisive moment came when the team pitted just prior to a full-course yellow, allowing them to leapfrog competitors who were forced to pit under caution. Following a strategic decision to fit only left-side Michelin tires during the closing stops, Milesi emerged with a seven-second advantage over the #93 Peugeot, ultimately claiming victory by a margin of 7.6 seconds.
“The decision came from top management; they wanted to take the risk, and it was the right choice,” stated Chatin post-race. Milesi added, “It was unbelievable…we had good race pace.”
Peugeot’s Mikkel Jensen followed closely, delivering another podium finish for the #93 9X8 and solidifying the team’s promising form after Jean-Eric Vergne’s strong performance. The #6 Porsche, operated by Penske and starting from 17th on the grid, mounted a remarkable recovery to finish third, despite facing a five-second penalty and damage early in the race.
The race featured several dramatic shifts in position, particularly due to three safety car periods that jumbled the field. A significant incident involving Raffaele Marciello, who crashed the #15 BMW, set off a lengthy caution that reshuffled front-running positions.
Ferrari had a disappointing outing, with their #51 and #52 factory entries finishing 11th and 15th, hampered by penalties for track limit violations and sidepod damage. Meanwhile, the #83 privately-entered 499P managed to finish in the top 10, a bright spot amid the struggles for the iconic brand.
In the LMGT3 class, TF Sport claimed victory after Vista AF Corse’s #21 Ferrari received a post-race penalty. Charlie Eastwood remarked on the team’s performance, saying, “What a performance from the whole team.”
No championship titles were settled during this event, with both the Hypercar and LMGT3 titles set to be decided in the final round in Bahrain.
Key Results:
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Hypercar Class:
- 1st: #35 Alpine (Milesi/Habsburg/Chatin)
- 2nd: #93 Peugeot (Jensen/Vergne)
- 3rd: #6 Porsche (Vanthoor/Estre)
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LMGT3 Class:
- 1st: TF Sport
- 2nd: #21 Ferrari (post-penalty)
- 3rd: #31 BMW
Conclusion
The thrilling pace and strategic intricacies of the WEC’s 100th race at Fuji set the stage for a gripping finale in Bahrain, ensuring the championship battles remain fiercely contested.
