Ford Racing heads to Japan this weekend (25-27 September) for the 6 Hours of Fuji, round six of the FIA World Endurance Championship, where the team are aiming for an LMGT3 podium with its two Proton Competition-run Ford Mustang GT3s.
The No. 88 Mustang GT3 will be driven by Logan Sargeant, Giammarco Levorato and Stefano Gattuso. The trio will be looking to build on the car’s encouraging pace and convert it into a strong result at Fuji Speedway. The weekend will present an additional challenge for Sargeant as he prepares to race at the Japanese circuit for the first time.
In the No. 77 Mustang GT3, Seb Priaulx, Ben Hunt and Eric Powell arrive in Japan with momentum following their top-five finish at the previous round at Circuit of The Americas. The crew will be aiming to build on that performance and fight at the front once again, while Powell will also be making his Fuji race debut.
Set against the spectacular backdrop of Mount Fuji, the circuit combines one of the longest straights in international motorsport with a demanding mix of high-speed sections and slower, technical corners. Its contrasting characteristics place a premium on set-up, while changeable weather can add another layer of unpredictability to the six-hour race.
With both crews demonstrating competitive pace, Ford Racing and Proton Competition will be pushing for a strong two-car performance - and a coveted place on the podium - at Fuji this weekend.
WEC 6 Hours of Fuji
*All Times Local
Friday 25 September
10:15 Free Practice 1
14:30 Free Practice 2
Saturday 26 September
09:30 Free Practice 3
14:00 Qualifying
Sunday 27 September
11:00 6 Hours of Fuji
DRIVER QUOTES:
Logan Sargeant: “This is the first new track for me in the WEC calendar this year so I’m excited to get to Fuji Speedway to see what it’s all about! Everyone at Ford Racing and Proton Competition has been working really hard, and we’re ready to give it our all in Japan.”
Ben Tuck: “We head to Fuji off the back of a strong top five in COTA. The weather looks very mixed, with a chance of rain in each session, so that’s going to make things very exciting! I can’t wait for the challenge”
Eric Powell: “Coming straight from our best result of the year at COTA, I’m definitely excited to continue with that momentum at Fuji. Japan is such a beautiful country with passionate fans and the track is a rather tricky one on the simulator so it should be an exciting race”
Sebastian Priaulx: “My last time at Fuji was in 2022 but I love that place – it’s an amazing track. Really looking forward to getting back there, the fans are so enthusiastic. We’re getting closer each time to that podium so I think we’re due one now! The car was strong there last year so I’m feeling positive going into this one.”
Giammarco Levorato: “I’m really happy to be back in Japan and racing at Fuji. It’s a great track and the fans here always bring an amazing energy, which makes this race very special. Our Ford Mustang GT3 has shown strong pace in the last few races, so I’m confident we can have a good weekend and fight for a strong result.”
Stefano Gattuso: “I love Japan and we have there lots of Ford fun and I personally have lots of friends from Mustang club Japan. I like a lot the track also especially the second sector. After the strong qualifying in COTA, I’m determined to continue the momentum hoping for a better final result - we stay positive and keep pushing.”
