Porsche on the way to the title at Fuji

For their last season in WEC, Porsche has set a hellish pace since their victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Apart from the first two events of the year, the German team won every race in 2017 and is on a series of 3 consecutive doubles. If they continue this momentum during the 6 Hours of Fuji in Japan, Porsche can take the drivers' and constructors' titles on the grounds of Toyota.

« Arithmetic is not much help during 6 Hour races, procrastinates Fritz Enzinger, vice-president of the LMP1 program. The long straight at Fuji will test our engines and managing traffic in the twisty parts of the circuit can be risky. We left to defend our two titles and we will keep a cool head. Currently, the Porsche 919 Hybrid has finished 59 times out of 64 starts: going the distance is always essential."

Beyond the essential question of reliability in endurance, performance is also at stake for this event on an atypical circuit with almost polar opposite characteristics from one sector to another.

« In terms of aerodynamics, explains Team Principal Andreas Seidl, Fuji Speedway requires two contradictory qualities from the car: 1.5km of the total 4.5km are straight lines which require as little downforce as possible. But turn 16 demands a lot.

« The regulations authorize 2 aero kits per season: one of them is for Le Mans with little downforce and the second brings a lot of downforce. We analyzed the data carefully and we chose this kit with a lot of support. »

The start of the 6 Hours of Fuji will be given on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. local time, or 3 a.m. in France.