Porsche Triumphs as Drama Unfolds: Vanthoor, Lotterer, and Estre Clinch Victory at Fuji 6 Hours

In a race packed with high-octane drama, Porsche’s Laurens Vanthoor, André Lotterer, and Kevin Estre delivered a stunning performance to win the 2024 6 Hours of Fuji, marking a critical victory for the Porsche Penske Motorsport team. Their #6 Porsche 963 ran almost flawlessly, outclassing fierce competition at Japan’s iconic Fuji Speedway.

Starting from a multi-car collision on the second lap to high-profile penalties and last-minute strategic gambles, the race had it all.

The battle for second was fiercely contested, with the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 team of Dries Vanthoor, Marco Wittmann, and Raffaele Marciello showing incredible pace, at times looking capable of securing their inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship win. But they ultimately had to settle for second after the Porsche proved unstoppable.

In third, the #36 Alpine A424 driven by Mick Schumacher, Nicolas Lapierre, and Matthieu Vaxiviere made an astonishing recovery, securing their first podium finish in a roller-coaster race where fortunes changed in the blink of an eye.

Early Chaos Sets the Stage

The action began right from the start, with Earl Bamber’s polesitting #2 Cadillac V-Series.R taking an early lead. However, just a lap into the race, Robert Kubica in the #83 AF Corse Ferrari triggered a chain-reaction crash, severely affecting several competitors, including the #5 Porsche and the #51 Ferrari. Debris littered the track, and a safety car was quickly deployed.

With multiple cars pitting to replace damaged bodywork, Kubica’s reckless move earned him a 30-second stop/go penalty, but the damage had already shaken up the field.

Porsche and BMW Lock Horns

Once racing resumed, the real battle began between Porsche, BMW, and Toyota. Vanthoor in the #6 Porsche quickly dispatched the #7 Toyota, while Bamber stretched his lead up front. However, as Bamber’s tires wore down, Wittmann in the BMW began closing the gap. The pit stops reshuffled the order, with Vanthoor gaining the advantage after a brilliant overcut strategy by Porsche.

At this point, the race seemed to be heading in Porsche’s favor, but an unexpected safety car deployment to clear debris changed the dynamics again. Most of the hypercar field pitted under safety conditions, setting up a new race order led by Vanthoor.

Ferrari Fights Back, but Porsche Dominates

Nicklas Nielsen in the #50 Ferrari made a valiant charge on fresh medium tires, climbing the order swiftly. However, he couldn’t overcome the speed of Lotterer in the Porsche, who reclaimed the lead and began pulling away. Meanwhile, Toyota’s Nyck de Vries mounted his own charge, briefly taking second place before being forced to pit again due to fuel strategy.

The Porsche’s superior pace allowed Estre to solidify their lead, even as chaos unfolded behind him. Toyota’s hopes were dashed when Kamui Kobayashi collided with the #5 Porsche while attempting an ambitious overtake, forcing both cars to retire.

Final Hour Madness

The final hour of the race was not without its surprises. Alpine’s Mick Schumacher, who had been running outside the points for much of the race, put on a spectacular drive, overtaking multiple cars to snatch third place. The #36 Alpine was Alpine’s first podium finish with the A424, marking a significant milestone for the team.

The race saw heartbreak for Ferrari, with the #50 car dropping from a promising position in the closing stages due to worn tires. Meanwhile, the Peugeot 9X8 of Mikkel Jensen, Nico Muller, and Jean-Eric Vergne put on a late-race surge to finish fourth, overtaking the #12 JOTA Porsche in the final minutes.

Toyota’s Home Disappointment

Despite being the home team, Toyota’s weekend ended in frustration. The #8 Toyota, driven by Ryo Hirakawa, fell out of podium contention after being penalized for ignoring blue flags. Hirakawa eventually finished in 10th, capping off a disappointing day for the Japanese manufacturer.

Final Standings

1. #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport (Vanthoor/Lotterer/Estre)
2. #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 (D. Vanthoor/Wittmann/Marciello)
3. #36 Alpine A424 (Schumacher/Lapierre/Vaxiviere)
4. #93 Peugeot 9X8 (Jensen/Muller/Vergne)
5. #12 JOTA Porsche 963 (Nato)
6. #38 JOTA Porsche 963 (Rasmussen)
7. #35 Alpine A424 (Milesi/Habsburg/Gounon)
8. #94 Peugeot 9X8 (Vandoorne/Duval/di Resta)
9. #50 Ferrari 499P (Fuoco)
10. #8 Toyota GR010 (Hirakawa)

This victory propels Porsche back into the spotlight, and with the season nearing its conclusion, all eyes are on them as they continue to challenge for dominance in the hypercar class.