The Battle Heats Up: 2024 6 Hours of Fuji Preview
The FIA World Endurance Championship heads to Fuji Speedway, setting the stage for what could be a pivotal moment in the 2024 season. As we approach the business end of the championship, the hypercar class is poised for an electrifying showdown.
Toyota’s home turf advantage at Fuji is undeniable. They’ve clinched victory in 9 out of 10 races here, with their only defeat coming nearly a decade ago in 2015. The track, which Toyota owns, features one of the longest straights in motorsport – a 1.5 km stretch that’ll push these hypercars to their limits.
But don’t count out the competition. This season has been a nail-biter, with six different winners from three manufacturers over six races. It’s anyone’s game.
In the manufacturers’ standings, Toyota leads for the first time this season, but only by a whisker. Porsche, who’ve held the top spot for most of the year, are hot on their heels. Ferrari, sitting in third, proved at Le Mans they’re more than capable of snatching victory.
The drivers’ championship is equally tight. The battle between Toyota’s #7, Ferrari’s #50, and Porsche’s #6 could come down to the wire. It’s a three-way dogfight that’ll keep us on the edge of our seats right to the checkered flag.
Privateers Making Waves
The Hypercar World Cup, a sub-championship for privateer entries, is heating up too. The #12 Hertz Team JOTA looked set to clinch it, but a tough outing at COTA has thrown the door wide open for the #83 AF Corse Ferrari.
Speaking of AF Corse, their COTA victory was a masterclass in strategy. They overcame early tire pressure issues to claim the top step, finally breaking Ferrari’s non-Le Mans win drought. It’s put the pressure on the factory teams to step up their game.
Rising Stars
Alpine and BMW are starting to find their feet. Alpine’s Charles Milesi turned heads with an impressive qualifying performance at COTA, while BMW showed flashes of real potential despite some bad luck.
We’re also seeing some driver shuffles. Jules Gounon is back in the Alpine seat, replacing Paul-Loup Chatin. It’s a chance for Gounon to showcase his skills and potentially secure a full-time hypercar drive for next season.
Predictions
While Toyota’s dominance at Fuji is hard to ignore, the competition is fiercer than ever. Porsche could be the ones to watch, especially the #6 car. Laurens Vanthoor and André Lotterer know this track inside out, and they were mighty quick here last year.
But in this most unpredictable of seasons, it’d be foolish to rule anyone out. From the privateers looking to upset the applecart to the improving Alpine and BMW squads, there are storylines aplenty to keep an eye on.
One thing’s for sure – with championships on the line and pride at stake, the 6 Hours of Fuji promises to be a barnstormer. Buckle up, folks. This is endurance racing at its finest.
