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(re-post) Live Report: WEC #7 @ Fuji Speedway - Rain, Fog, Chopard-Sponsored Porsche 919, 1-2 start and 3-4 Finish....Damn!

(at my first attempt, the latter half of my post had disappeared, so I re-post here - please enjoy!)

... but Toyota did 1-2 finish at the race in Japan - as a Japanese, I am a bit torn apart.....

Anyway, mostly pictorial report starts! The race was held last weekend - October 15th.

Took a bullet train, got off at Mishima station, and car took us to the recently renovated hotel - Fuji Marriott. I wondered who would come to the hotel like this in the middle of nowhere - except for those who came for the race

)

- Day 1

The room - wow! hot spring in the room? Great! Why did I have to stay in this room alone?

Now to dinner, and educational session before that.

Reception for a bit.

Mr. Marc Van Dalen - always teach us what WEC is all about, difference between the categories, and from Formula 1, etc. He must travel with the team every year, so he is almost always on the road.

Now, the special guest to the dinner #1, Nick Tandy!

And, the special guest #2, Mr. Carlo Wiggers!

And who do you think came next to me?

Cool Superfast - all the drivers wear this while driving.

Yup, Nick Tandy sits next to me at the dinner.

A very nice chap - he became professional 5 years ago (now he is 32). Before that, he was racing for fun (having known that he was pretty good himself) and working as a wind screen repairman. Then he signed with a private team, got paid racing for the first time in his life. 2 years later, Porsche found him and got him. His life changed dramatically but he still lives North of London, near Sliverstone, with wife and kids. He said that his house certainly got bigger. His wife is very happy, too. But he misses the family and his family misses him all the time. He recorded the fastest lap this day and his car (#1) got the pole position.

And Carlo entertained the guests, too.

Going back to the building we stay.

But since we needed one more glass, or two or three... I went to bar with Chopard Japan team + Marc. This is Marc's PLATINUM L.U.C Time Traveler One. Quite nice color dial and weighty watch. Very, very nice.

- Day 2 (sorry, below this had been cut and didn't make it when I first posted this thread)

My pass to the race.

Everyone wearing uniform wind breaker. Reminds me of the last time I was here - in 2015

www.watchprosite.com

Walking in the rain to the VIP lounge.

From the lounge - already foggy.

This is the lounge, much more crowded than the last time - everyone here to see Porsche in WEC race for the last time at Fuji?

Directory above the Porsche garage.

Brendon Hartley - another nice chap who sat on my table last year dinner. Was 25 back then and now he seems to have grown up

) Still a very nice guy.

And "Grid Walk" in rain, rain, rain..... deja vu...

Tyre "warming" facility. Need lots of rain tyres at a bit higher temperature.

This was the starting standing. 1-2 Porsche, 3-4 Toyota.

1 minute.

Now the rolling start!

Lots of Porsche fans out there it seems.

From here, several shots taken by my bigger camera and super tele lens. Enjoy!

Right after the start.

Can't see a thing!

Already Yellow Flag - can't pass.

Now, the Red Flag. Must stop at the start line as in the actual standing - #2 was the top at this moment, so it stops at the top of the line.

After restart, while the race is still after the safety car - can't speed up or pass other cars - #2 decided to pit stop.

And here is how fast the pit crew worked!

Then, the drivers came up to the lounge and signed their cards. Nice chaps, too.

Timo Bernhard.

Andre Lotterer

Again, Carlo came up and gave us some explanation of what is going on.

And, again, the 2nd Red Flag....

#2 stayed at the garage until the Red Flag is gone....but...

A bit picturesque, eh?

With 46 minutes left, this ended up as the final result..... Toyota 1-2, Porsche 3-4....

Two Japanese flags in Japan - as a Japanese, I am a bit torn apart. I am happy, but sad to see Porsche NOT on top.

The usual Champagne game....

So, that's it for my live report of WEC #7 at Fuji - was not great, but wonderful hospitality by the Porsche/ Chopard team and very much appreciated for inviting me.

Thank you, Chopard Japan team and Porsche team. Hope to see you somewhere somehow next year and beyond.

Best,

Ken

(a glitch made half of my post disappear and I apologize for that)

(re-post) Live Report: WEC #7 @ Fuji Speedway - Rain, Fog, Chopard-Sponsored Porsche 919, 1-2 start and 3-4 Finish....Damn!

(re-post) Live Report: WEC #7 @ Fuji Speedway - Rain, Fog, Chopard-Sponsored Porsche 919, 1-2 start and 3-4 Finish....Damn!

Thanks for your great report, Ken!

That's in the making - - at least Mr. KFS's mind.. :-))

That I will be :)

Thanks for all these photos. Your 8HF is my favorite Chopard watch shown.

Me, too!

Thanks for the update and now Hartley-san is in F1 Grand Prix USA (nt)

Yes, I know. He is a great young chap!