WEC: Porsche Secures Double Podium at The 6 Hours of Fuji, Narrows Ferrari's Lead
Fuji Speedway, Japan – September 28, 2025 – Porsche Penske Motorsport achieved a 3rd-4th finish in the FIA World Endurance Championship's Fuji Speedway round on Sunday, closing the gap to championship-leading Ferrari in both the Drivers' and Manufacturers' standings. The result came after a challenging race marked by penalties, safety car periods, and strategic pit stops.
The #6 Porsche 963 LMDh, driven by Kévin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor, started 17th following a qualifying issue. Estre overtook several competitors mid-race, including Ferrari's Antonio Fuoco and Aston Martin's Alex Riberas, to reach second place. A five-second penalty for an earlier incident dropped the car to third, where Vanthoor maintained position against Peugeot's Mikkel Jensen.
The #5 entry, with Julien Andlauer and Mathieu Jaminet, recovered from early penalties and handling issues to finish fourth, 8 seconds behind the podium. Jaminet completed a long final stint of nearly four hours.
Alpine claimed its first WEC victory of the season in the Hypercar class, ahead of Toyota and the leading Porsche.
Key Race Details
- Starting Positions: #6 in 17th, #5 in 12th after penalties.
- Incidents: Multiple Full Course Yellows disrupted strategies; the #6 faced early contact requiring a rear-wing repair.
- Points Impact: Estre/Vanthoor reduced their Drivers' deficit to Ferrari from 36 to 21 points, with 39 remaining before Bahrain. Porsche cut the Manufacturers' lead to 39 points, holding a 22-point advantage over Cadillac.
Driver and Team Reactions
- Kévin Estre (#6): "Starting far back made third a solid outcome. We lost ground with the safety car timing, but the fight was strong."
- Julien Andlauer (#5): "We capitalized on every chance. The team's strategy and Mathieu's driving were key despite early setbacks."
- Urs Kuratle, Porsche Director: "Third and fourth were more than we'd hoped post-qualifying. This gains ground on Cadillac and keeps us in the title hunt."
The season finale, the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain, is scheduled for November 6-8.
