The number 7 Toyota TS050 Hybrid has won the 6 Hours of Fuji at the LMP1 category, the fourth race in the World Endurance Championship or WEC2018. The Toyota number 8 came in second in a one-two for the Japanese manufacturer, followed in third by the Rebellion 1. With this second place, Alonso stretches his lead in the standings to 13 points.

The 230 laps of the 6 Hours of Fuji have given their first victory of the year to ‘Pechito’ Lopez, Kamui Kobayashi and Mike Conway. This is also the third win and third one-two for the Japanese team in 2018, after the ones in Spa and Le Mans.

The Japanese Scuderia has climbed to the top of the podium at its home circuit and in front of all its loyal fans for the sixth time in seven years.  There is little doubt that the Fuji Speedway is Toyota’s territory, with their factory standing just a few kilometers down the road.

An understeering car and the wrong engine timing

The understeering of the Toyota #8 was key to the outcome of this edition of the 6 Hours of Fuji, as it prevented Fernando Alonso, Nakajima and Sebastien Buemi from fighting for their third victory of the season following the ones at Spa and Le Mans.

The number #8, which started from pole after the other Toyota suffered a place penalty, showed great rhythm during the first hour of the race and while the tarmac was still wet. The precise engine timing allowed it to move like a fish in the water.

But as the rain stopped and the tarmac got drier, the Toyota #8’s performance steadily declined until it finally lost its advantage. Behind, the other car from the Japanese manufacturer, which was configured for dry conditions, could smell the blood and it didn’t waste its chance.

Alonso gave it all he had, but it was in vain

Some were harboring hopes that at the third relay of the 6 Hours of Fuji, and with Alonso taking over, the situation may be reversed. The Spaniard however, who took the wheel of #8 at 7:24 (Western European time), was unable to turn things around.

Right from the start, Alonso’s car suffered serious issues with understeering, making it very hard for the Spaniard to come anywhere close to the times that his team-car was signing. #7 now had an advantage of 25 seconds and was running 0.3-0.4 seconds faster per lap.

The technical disadvantage of #8 was obvious and the Spaniard was becoming more and more frustrated as he realized he was unable to get any closer to the leader, the Toyota #7. It was then that Alonso was told on the radio: “Do not take unnecessary risks, do not take unnecessary risks”.

Such instructions meant the end of the fight for victory. His support team had made it clear that given the obvious superiority of #7, it was best not to push himself to the limit. ‘Pechito’ Lopez was 26,079 seconds ahead of Alonso at this point, and it would have been reckless to fight such an impossible cause. ‘El Nano’ came into boxes at 8:40 a.m. to be replaced by team-mate Nakajima.

From then on it was a triumphal ride for Toyota #7, which even allowed itself the luxury of going back to boxes for Kabayashi to climb in and cross the finish line at the 6 Hours of Fuji.

The other categories

The Jackie Chang DC Racing 37 won the second prototype category (LMP2) in a one-two with team-mate from #38. Third in the podium was #36 Singatech Alpine Matmut. As for the GTE-Pro (Professional) category, the Porsche 92 took its second victory of the last four races, flanked in the podium by the BMW 82 and the Ford 67.

Lastly, at the GTE-Am (Amateur) category, the Porsche 56 from Project 1 team claimed the win before the Porsche 88 (Dempsey-Proton) and Aston Martin #90 from TF Sport.

Main image: Twitter Toyota Gazoo Racing.

Other images: Twitter FIA WEC.