Aston Martin

WEC Round 6 "Fuji 6 Hours" Race / October 19-20, 2013 Fuji Speedway

Aston Martin Victorious in Challenging Weather

Aston Martin is competing in the world's premier endurance race, the WEC (World Endurance Championship), with the "V8 Vantage" in two classes: LMGTE-Pro and LMGTE-Am.V8 VantageWe closely followed the Japanese round, WEC Round 6 "Fuji 6 Hours" race, eagerly anticipated by many fans, and report on the allure of the "Aston Martin" brand, which has always walked alongside racing, and the team's battles.

Text by SAKURAI Kenichi

The Most Competitive and Fierce Battles

Currently, only four racing series bear the title of World Championship. One is Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport. Another is the World Rally Championship (WRC). The remaining two are the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) and the World Endurance Championship (WEC).


Race categories are broadly divided into two. LMP, for prototype racing cars designed exclusively for racing, and LMGTE, based on production sports cars. Within these, LMP is further divided into two classes, and LMGTE into LMGTE-Pro and LMGTE-Am, based on the drivers.

As expected of the world's premier endurance race, the competition at the top is fierce in every category. However, it is said that the LMGTE class, contested by GT cars, offers the most competitive and heated battles.


In particular, the LMGTE-Pro class, for professional drivers, features sports cars such as the "Porsche 911 RSR",Porsche 911 RSR", the "Ferrari 458 Italia",Ferrari 458 Italia", and the "Aston Martin V8 Vantage".


Due to regulations prohibiting direct manufacturer participation, the entries appear to be from independent racing teams. However, in reality, these teams are essentially factory-backed operations. Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that this competition, regardless of team names, is a fierce battle for the prestige of manufacturers and brands.

Aston Martin

WEC Round 6 "Fuji 6 Hours" Race / October 19-20, 2013 Fuji Speedway

Aston Martin Victorious in Challenging Weather (2)

Gain One Position Ahead

The LMGTE machines are based on well-known production sports cars, with modifications limited by regulations. This results in intense battles that belie the nature of a long-duration endurance race.


Darren Turner of the "Aston Martin Racing Team," whom we interviewed, stated, "In the past, we sometimes drove calculatively to conserve fuel, but now we are always at full throttle. The strategy of maintaining a consistent pace to average lap times is rare. We race with the maximum performance we can achieve at each moment.


"Even in a long race like six hours (except for the 24 Hours of Le Mans), the driving and performance required are no different from a one-hour sprint race. It's a demanding race for both the car and the driver," he added.

While strategies may exist for weather or car damage, the traditional endurance race strategies of conserving fuel or maintaining position are obsolete in WEC. "If there are any strategies, it's to gain one position ahead. It's about making the maximum effort to overtake without hesitation," said Darren Turner. His comment reveals that the WEC, despite its name, is essentially a fierce six-hour sprint race.

"This season, both the team and the car have been performing exceptionally well, placing us in a position to contend for the championship. However, to be honest, the current tires are not ideally suited for a high-speed circuit like Fuji. Our tires tend to perform better on more technical courses.


"That's precisely why, conversely, the championship could be secured depending on the results at Fuji. Of course, our goal is the championship, so it's crucial not to lose here. By securing solid results in the remaining races, we can move closer to our ultimate victory."

Aston Martin

WEC Round 6 "Fuji 6 Hours" Race / October 19-20, 2013 Fuji Speedway

Aston Martin Victorious in Challenging Weather (3)

Experiencing Aston Martin's DNA More Closely

Saturday, October 19th. During qualifying for the Japanese round, WEC Round 6 "Fuji 6 Hours" race, held at Fuji Speedway, the feared worsening weather thankfully held off, and the program proceeded according to schedule.


The highly anticipated "Aston Martin Racing Team" secured pole position in the LMGTE-Pro class with a time of 1:39.114 from the #97 driven by Darren Turner, Stefan Mücke, and Frédéric Makowiecki, followed by their teammates in the #99 with a time of 1:39.591. In LMGTE-Am, the #95, driven by Bruno Senna, Christoffer Nygaard, and Kristian Poulsen, also took the top spot with a time of 1:40.824. Both cars achieved excellent starting positions for the final.

On the day of qualifying, many Aston Martin owners also visited the circuit. The latest Aston Martin lineup could be seen in the parking area. For these owners, an exclusive VIP lounge was also provided, a unique aspect of WEC. It is clear, as seen in examples from Europe and America, that luxury brands are integrated into the special world of the world's premier endurance race.


In the lounge, guests could experience Aston Martin's DNA, a brand with a history intertwined with racing, more intimately, while also fully appreciating the dynamic performance showcased on the track. Of course, Aston Martin owners, along with the many fans in the stands, cheered for the team. Opportunities for photos with the participating drivers were also provided, allowing them to fully enjoy the WEC experience.

Additionally, during breaks in qualifying, racing taxis (passenger rides) and autograph sessions with FIA-sanctioned racing drivers were held.


Aston Martin provided the "Aston Martin Rapide S" and the "Aston Martin Vanquish" for these racing taxis,Aston Martin Rapide S" and the "Aston Martin Vanquish & DB9"Aston Martin Vanquishallowing attending fans to experience Aston Martin's performance on the full course of Fuji Speedway.

Aston Martin

WEC Round 6 "Fuji 6 Hours" Race / October 19-20, 2013 Fuji Speedway

Aston Martin Victorious in Challenging Weather (4)

An Unsatisfying Conclusion

Sunday, October 20th, the day of the final race, was highly anticipated. However, the rain that began the previous evening intensified, creating such severe weather that Mount Fuji was completely obscured. The race was red-flagged three times and interrupted. The race continued with the safety car leading, but after only 16 laps, it was deemed complete and concluded.

Although the "Aston Martin Racing Team" faced an unsatisfying conclusion, the #97 driven by Darren Turner, Stefan Mücke, and Frédéric Makowiecki secured a class victory in LMGTE-Pro. In the LMGTE-Am class, the #95 driven by Bruno Senna, Christoffer Nygaard, and Kristian Poulsen also won their class, while the #96 driven by Stuart Hall, Jamie Campbell-Walter, and Jonathan Adam took second place. They achieved results in Japan.


In the remaining two races of 2013, the #97 and the "Aston Martin Racing Team" won the Shanghai round following the Fuji round. However, they unfortunately scored no points in the final Bahrain round, narrowly missing out on the overall championship title, which was awarded to Ferrari. Having lost a season they could have won, finishing second, we eagerly anticipate their redemption next season.