Toyota Wins Again at WEC 6 Hours of Fuji

The world championship for prototypes has not raced at Fuji Speedway since 1988, but ToyotaToyota TS030 HYBRIDJapan, 2012 > present5 photos
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 gave Japanese fans a welcome back celebration by winning the 6 Hours of Fuji. It is the second race that the car has won in its inauggaral season. 

Toyota started from pole, but Audi challenged for the lead for the entire race. At the finish, the the #1 Audi R18 E-Tron QuattroAudi R18 e-tron quattroGermany, 2012 > present8 photos
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was a scant 11 seconds behind. The #1 Audi incurred a drive through penalty for making contact witht he #97  Aston Martin Vantage V8Aston Martin Vantage GTEUnited Kingdom, 2012 > present4 photos
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, and the #2 Audi was struck by the #88 Team Felbermayr-Proton Porsche. The incident with the #1 Audi brought out the safety car briefly to clear debris. 

"We promised to fight for the win but Audi made it very difficult. This win is the result of an enormous team effort, from Japan to Cologne. From the start of the weekend everything was targeted on race balance and strategy; we executed it and got the result we wanted so big thanks to the team,” said Toyota driver Alex Wurz.

The #12 Rebellion Racing Lola B12/60-ToyotaLola B12/60 CoupeUnited Kingdom, 2011 > present2 photos
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won the privateer FIA Endurance Trophy and was a lap ahaed of its nearest competitior the #22 JRM (TOOLTIP|VERSION|49209|HPD ARX-03a}. The third privateer LMP1 car was the #21 Strakka Racing HPD ARX-03a.

In LMP2, the #25 ADR Delta Oreca 03-NissanOreca Oreca 03 NissanFrance, 2011 > present2 photos
won the day by about a lap, but the #44 Starworks Motorsport HPD-ARX 03bHonda HPD ARX 03bJapan, 2012 > present2 photos
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was second place and won the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 cars. The #24 Oak Racing Morgan-NissanOAK Racing Morgan NissanFrance, 2012 > present1 photo
was third. 

“It will probably take a little while for our Championship win to sink in. It was a program that I felt kept getting stronger and stronger. When you look at the results we have had, it is incredible that a first-year team with no experience in motorsport outside of North America and with engineers who had never been outside America, could come here and do this," said Starworks driver Ryan Dalziel.

In GTE Pro, the #77 Team Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 911 GT3 RSRPorsche 911 GT3 RSRGermany, 2012 > present6 photos
won, but the #51 AF Corse Ferrari 458Ferrari 458 Italia GTCItaly, 2011 > present5 photos
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was second and won the FIA Endurance Trophy and LMGTE World Cup. The #97 Aston Martin Vantage was third. 

The #50 Larbre Competition Corvette ZR1Chevrolet Corvette C6.RUnited States of America, 2011 > present3 photos
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won the GTE Am class. The #57 Krohn racing Ferrari was second, and the #88 Team Felbermayr-Proton Porsche GT3 RSRPorsche 911 GT3 RSRGermany, 2011 > present10 photos
was third. 

The next race will be the 6 Hours of Shanghai where Audi will have a real battle on its hands. While it has long won the constructors' championship, the drivers' championship is still up for grabs. Only the #1 and #2 Audis are challenging for it in the LMP1 class, and 16.5 points separate them. The #1 Audi would have to put in a very poor performance or crash to allow Allan McNIsh and Tom Kristensen the drivers' titile.