Japanese stage of World Endurance Championship ended the scandal — Porsche team has used the command tactics. Shortly before the finish of the race of her crew, who occupied the first and second positions are reversed. It is not clear another — why all surprised? Like any other team in the same situation would have done otherwise?
Track Fuji Speedway has an interesting history. Built in the province of Shizuoka money Mitsubishi Group in 2000 it was sold to Toyota. In 2007 and 2008, this circuit held the Japanese Grand Prix, but the «Formula 1» did not stay at the foot of Mount Fuji. Interestingly, this circuit has one of the longest among all the direct routes of the world — the length of the main straight of half a kilometer!
The qualifying heats were held with complete domination crews Porsche. Mark Webber and Timo Bernhard won the pole position — and the Australian confirmed the high status of the ex-pilot of «Formula 1», and set a new course record. The second time, just three tenths behind his teammates showed their colleague Marc Lieb and Romain Dumas.
Their rivals from Audi does not help even a new configuration of aerodynamics — the crews of the team at full strength occupied the second line of the grid — Andre Lotterer and Benoit Trelyuye were third and Loic Duval and Lucas di Grassi — fourth.
Home race or home — nothing has changed for the riders Toyota. Even at its — literally — the racetrack, they have not been able to make trouble in the slender ranks of German teams. Good thing Kazuki Nakajima paired with Sebastien Buemi were able to get ahead of their colleagues Stéphane Sarrazin and Mike Conway — and it would be very uncomfortable in front of the Japanese fans.
And they gathered a lot — on the day of the race in the stands got wet in the rain more than 52 thousand people!
However, «soaking» this is not the right word — the racers started under yellow flags and «ironed» the track in this mode, the first sixteen laps — forty minutes long! But it was worth it, because when the start is still held, the audience witnessed a bitter struggle in the leading group.
Blame has become too successful start by crews Porsche. Marcel Fessler (Audi №7) ahead of both competitors and took the lead. And the battle began between him and Mark Webber (Porsche №17). They repeatedly change position, but in the end, after three hours of racing the first place still remains for the pilot of Audi.
To dry the track has changed position in the race — after the third hour of the leadership intercepted Romain Dumas (Porsche №18), and the second position booked Brendon Hartley from Porsche crew at number 19.
Andre Lotterer Audi №7 was back in the fight for the lead — he put the intermediate tires, so led his crew into second place. But a little later, he tried to repeat the same risky move, but miscalculated — switching to slicks proved to be premature and lead to the loss of the two positions.
Two prototypes Porsche gradually gone into the lead and all went to that victory will be a trio of Romain Dumas, Neil Janney and Mark Lieb — by the end of the race, they brought their lead over their pursuers Brendon Hartley, Mark Webber and Timo Bernhard to thirty seconds. But the boss of the German team decided otherwise...
The order of the boxes was executed implicitly — two Porsche swapped the victory at the end of «6:00 Fuji» went to Hartley, Webber and Bernhard.
But their rivals from Audi, too, went to the command tactics — though not so obvious. The team invited ranks third Loic Duval on an unscheduled pit stop, which made the third position Andre Lotterer.
The results of the Japanese race to the limit aggravate the situation in the standings. Porsche crew Mark Webber, Timo Bernhard and Brendon Hartley took the lead and now occupies first place, but a trio of Audi André Lotterer, Marcel Fässler, Benoit Trelyuye losing them only one point! And it points the riders Porsche received in Japan for won the pole.
Before the end of the season is only two stages — in China and Bahrain, which means that the fight in every race will not go on the life and death!
The «junior» LMP2 standings crew celebrated the victory of the Russian team G-Drive as part of Roman Rusinov, Julien channels and Sam Bird. However, there has not been without scandal. In the heat of battle car Roman Rusinov and prototype teams KCMG running Richard Bradley touched. Last I went to the pit stop, and then back out on the road collided with Gustavo Yakimanom, piloted by another car of the Russian team. Proceedings of the accident has not yet been completed, and the culprit is not named.
The victory won in the class GTPro duo Toni Vilander and Gianmaria Bruni. Leaders offset Persons Richard and Michael Christensen finished only fourth, but that did not stop them to keep the first position.
First victory for himself in the standings GTAm won the crew of which goes a well-known actor Patrick Dempsey — with him on the top step of the podium, Patrick Long and Marco Zeefrid. The crew of the Russian team SMP Racing Victor Shaitar Alexey Basov and Andrea Bertolini took sixth place.
The next stage of WEC will be held on November 1 in Shanghai.
