Fuji, 14 September 2024 - An outstanding performance by François Heriau earned the number 55 Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3 pole position for the Fuji 6 Hours, the seventh round of the FIA World Endurance Championship season. This marks the first pole in the FIA WEC for the Prancing Horse car, entered in the LMGT3 class reserved for series-derived cars, during its debut year in the championship. The sister car, number 54, driven by Thomas Flohr, will start from ninth place in the race scheduled for Sunday, 15 September, at 11 a.m. (local time).
As per regulations, the two Bronze-licensed drivers took to the track during the qualifying session, contested on the afternoon of Saturday, 14 September, under dry and hot conditions, with air temperatures at 29°C and the track at 43°C. François Heriau placed the number 55 296 LMGT3, shared with official Ferrari driver Alessio Rovera and Simon Mann, in first position, while Thomas Flohr set the eighth fastest time in the number 54 car, alongside crew-mates official driver Davide Rigon and Francesco Castellacci. Both cars thus secured a place in the Hyperpole, reserved for the ten fastest cars.
In the decisive session, Heriau once again showed himself at ease on the Japanese track, improving his previous lap time and securing pole position with a time of 1'40"893, just 82 milliseconds ahead of second place. Flohr, meanwhile, recorded a time of 1'41"608, 715 milliseconds behind his teammate, placing ninth in a session with very close gaps, with all cars separated by just over eight tenths.
The Fuji 6 Hours, a mainstay on the WEC calendar now in its eleventh edition, will kick off at 11 a.m. (local time) on Sunday, 15 September.
Here are their comments following the Hyperpole, ahead of the race which will start on Sunday, 15 September at 11 a.m. (local time).
François Heriau, 296 LMGT3 number 55: “From the start of the weekend, the car performed really well, and I felt comfortable. We were competitive right from the free practice sessions, and in qualifying, I aimed to bring home the result, securing the first pole for the 296 LMGT3 in the FIA WEC. I want to thank the entire team for this. I’m also very happy on a personal level as I’m a rookie with this car this year, and race after race, my performance and confidence with the 296 LMGT3 are improving. Tomorrow’s 6 Hours will be challenging, but we are confident because we’ve shown we can be competitive, and both Simon and Alessio (Mann and Rovera, Ed.) are very fast. Our main goal is to have an error-free race, as we are still chasing our first podium.”
Thomas Flohr, 296 LMGT3 number 54: “This weekend, the car is truly exceptional and very well balanced. My best lap could have been enough for second or third position, but I had a slight loss of grip in the final corner. However, I’m happy to have made it into the Hyperpole, and tomorrow, I’m expecting an interesting race where we can perform very well.”
14 September 2024