Free practice: speed is on the agenda
Racing in Japan for a Japanese brand is a very special experience thanks to the fans’ passion. But when Japanese cars also set the fastest lap times, the atmosphere becomes even more electric. In the first session, Ben Barnicoat put the #78 at the top of the LMGT3 standings with a lap of 1:41.257s, setting the benchmark in the Lexus. Meanwhile, the #87 finished in 15th place.
In the second session, the roles were reversed. This time it was Clemens Schmid who took the #87 to the top of the LMGT3 timesheets (1:41.143s). Confirming the competitiveness of both cars, the #78 was close behind, in the top three.
The final session saw a change in weather conditions. Although the track remained dry, temperatures were cooler. This provided an opportunity to test different set-ups and analyse tyre degradation. The #78 was eighth with a lap of 1:41.445s, while the #87 was 18th with a best time of 1:41.868s.
Mixed results in qualifying
Qualifying was a hard-fought battle, with the standings changing right up until the chequered flag. Despite showing a strong pace, Arnold Robin was 13th in the #78 and Petru Umbrarescu 15th in the #87. Neither car was able to break into the top 10 despite their encouraging free practice performances. This meant that Akkodis ASP Team missed a Hyperpole session for the first time this season. Despite a disappointing qualifying, the objective for the race remained clear: to drive consistently and score points.
Race: six intense hours
The #78 and #87 Lexus RC F LMGT3s line up on the 6 Hours of Fuji starting grid from the 16th and 17th rows respectively, under an overcast sky, with ambient temperatures of 22°C and a 28°C track temperature.
There was action right from the start at the back of the pack and Arnold Robin in the #78 paid the price. He made contact with the #77, which earned a drive-through penalty for the incident. The pace immediately picked up as the battle raged in the pack, although the first safety car period already neutralised the race within the first hour. Petru Umbrarescu completed his first stint in 12th in the #87 while Arnold Robin was 14th in the #78.
At the start of the second hour, a drive-through penalty was imposed on the #78. While using his drinks bottle during the full course yellow which preceded the safety car, Arnold Robin accidentally disconnected the pit lane speed limiter and briefly exceeded 80km/h. At the end of the second hour, after a double stint, he handed the wheel to Finn Gehrsitz in 15th.
In the #87, Petru Umbrarescu had an excellent double stint, setting a good pace and adopting an effective strategy, which helped him move up to sixth. José María López took over at the start of the third hour.
Through the stints and pit stops, as well as FCYs and safety cars, the team maintained a steady pace in a closely-fought LMGT3 race. At the halfway point, the #87 was 11th and the #78 was 14th.
Finn Gehrsitz completed a double stint in the #78 while José María López handed over the #87 to Clemens Schmid. The fourth hour saw the #78 climb back up to eighth while the #87 remained in the top 15. The Akkodis ASP Team kept up the pressure at the home of endurance racing in Japan.
For the final part of the race, Ben Barnicoat took to the track and continued the progress for the #78. During a pit stop sequence, he even briefly moved up to third at the end of the fifth hour. But the intense battle continued and staying on the lead lap became increasingly difficult. After 184 laps, the #78 Lexus crossed the finish line in the points, in 10th place.
In the #87, Clemens Schmid and then José María López battled fiercely to stay in contention, driving hard while avoiding incidents on a packed racetrack. At the chequered flag, the #87 finished in 15th in the LMGT3 class.
Faced with extremely close competition and formidable opponents, Akkodis ASP Team leaves Japan sixth in the championship. The team’s first objective of finishing the race with both cars was achieved, and one car scored points. The team therefore once again demonstrated its determination, as well as the reliability of its two Lexus RC F LMGT3 cars.
The 6 Hours of Fuji provided valuable lessons ahead of the season finale on 8 November at the Bahrain International Circuit, which hosts a spectacular day-night eight-hour race under floodlights.
Photos@DPPI
