Fuji Speedway brings a notoriously demanding test this weekend from 25-27 September, presenting three distinct sectors that pull competing rubber in entirely different directions. Hypercar teams will rely on the soft or medium Michelin Pilot Sport Endurance slick compounds, alongside a Wet option if the skies open up.
Now a near-permanent fixture on the calendar since the championship's launch back in 2012, the 6 Hours of Fuji plays out against the stunning backdrop of Mount Fuji in front of passionate Japanese endurance racing fans. The 4.563km circuit delivers blistering speeds second only to Le Mans, with Hypercars rocketing past 330km/h down the massive 1.475km main straight. At that kind of velocity, the Michelin slicks must endure a vertical load exceeding 2.5 tonnes.
Pierre Alves, manager of Michelin Motorsport's endurance racing programmes, points out the distinct demands of the layout. The first sector balances the long straight with aerodynamic demands, power, and thermal management. Sector two shifts the focus to high-speed corners, while the third sector relies heavily on mechanical grip through a tight sequence of slower turns. Handling the rubber through the fast turns four and five will dictate success.
Hypercar partner teams have access to soft and medium slicks alongside the rain specification, designed to tackle the expected temperature window and open up strategic avenues as the weather shifts. This marks the debut visit for the current Michelin Pilot Sport Endurance range at Fuji, featuring tyres built with 50 percent renewable or recycled materials. These newer specifications target improved warm-up performance to give drivers immediate confidence on early laps when temperatures sit on the lower side.
Last year's Japanese round marked the championship's 100th race, delivering a maiden world-class victory for the Alpine A424 on a double-stint of Michelin rubber, with Peugeot finishing second. Toyota will be hunting for an extraordinary tenth home win alongside Michelin, while Ferrari, BMW, Cadillac, Aston Martin and Genesis line up to spoil the party.
On-track sessions begin with free practice on Friday, 25 September, ahead of the race start at 11:00 local time (GMT+9) on Sunday, 27 September.
