Kobayashi proved his dominance in the Hypercar qualifying session by securing the top spot with a blistering time of 1m27.794s. This remarkable achievement not only earned him the coveted pole position but also scored a crucial bonus point for himself and his team-mates, Jose Maria Lopez and Mike Conway. The #7 Toyota left its competitors trailing behind, with Brendon Hartley in the #8 Toyota finishing 0.624 seconds adrift in second place.
In a battle for supremacy, the two factory Penske-run Porsche 963s showcased their outstanding performance. Kevin Estre briefly topped the times in the #6 Porsche, only to be outdone by the relentless Toyotas. Nevertheless, Estre’s efforts resulted in a commendable third place finish, while his teammate, Frederic Makowiecki, secured fourth place in the sister #5 car.
The Solo Cadillac V-Series.R, driven by Alex Lynn, impressed with a commendable fifth place finish. However, Ferrari suffered a subdued qualifying session, failing to secure a top-three position for the first time this season. James Calado set the Italian marque’s best time of 1m28.991s in the #51 car, placing the team in sixth position. Nicklas Nielsen in the #50 Ferrari followed closely behind.
Antonio Felix da Costa showcased his driving prowess in the Jota customer Porsche, securing an impressive eighth position. Proton’s Neel Jani and the struggling Peugeot 9X8s, driven by Mikkel Jensen and Loic Duval, claimed ninth, tenth, and eleventh places respectively. The solo Vanwall Vandervell 680, driven by Tristan Vautier, unfortunately propped up the order in the Hypercar category.
In the LMP2 category, United Autosports stole the show with Phil Hanson taking the #22 ORECA 07’s first pole position of the year. Hanson’s remarkable performance, with a best time of 1m32.182s, secured the team’s third pole position in total. Louis Deletraz in the #41 WRT ORECA came in a close second, just 0.091s behind Hanson. Oliver Jarvis ensured both United cars will start in the top three, with the Jota machine of Pietro Fittipaldi and the Le Mans class-winning Inter Europol Competition car of Albert Costa following behind.
In the fiercely competitive GTE Am class, Ben Keating delivered an outstanding performance, securing Corvette Racing’s third pole position of the season. Keating, piloting the solo Corvette C8.R, edged out his rival Sarah Bovy in the Iron Dames Porsche by a mere 0.035s on the damp track. Satoshi Hoshino claimed third place for D’station Racing Aston Martin, followed by Ian James in the Heart of Racing example. Hiroshi Koizumi led the Ferrari contingent, driving the #21 AF Corse car.
The countdown to the WEC 6 Hours of Fuji has begun, with the race scheduled to start at 11 am local time (GMT +9) on Sunday. Racing enthusiasts around the world eagerly await the thrilling spectacle that Hypercar racing promises to deliver. The intense competition between Kobayashi and his challengers, the impressive performance of United Autosports in LMP2, and the fierce battle in GTE Am are just a taste of what awaits the fans on race day.
The Hypercar qualifying session showcased the incredible skill and performance of the drivers and teams competing in various categories. With the race day fast approaching, all eyes will be on Fuji Speedway to witness the culmination of months of preparation and anticipation. The exhilarating world of hypercar racing never fails to captivate fans with its intense battles, stunning displays of speed and agility, and the relentless pursuit of victory.
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