From 9-11 of October 2015, the 6th round of FIA WEC, 6 Hours of Fuji was held at Fuji International Speedway.

With mechanic staff at grid walk

Aston Martin Vantage V8　#97

WEC is World Endurance Championship, which started in 2012 following F1, WRC, WTCC and FIA-GT, and features eight endurance races across the world, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

The WEC cars are divided into 4 categories: LMP1, LMP2, LMGTE-PRO,  LMGTE-AM and drivers are also divided into the 4 categories depending on their experience as well as their race results. Every year, the world's leading car makers, prestigious racing teams as well as top matures are competing in the unbelievable hot battles. 

This time, Aston Martin Racing entered 5 cars in total, Cars #95, 97 and 99 for GTE-Pro Class and Cars #96 and 98 for GTE-AM Class. 

The Osato Research Institute members headed by Yuki Hayashi also rushed over to the FUJI Speedway, since we have been supporting Aston Martin Racing as their Official Partner since 2005 by providing FPP with drivers and pit crews for their health maintenance.   

On October 9, official practice session was held and on October 10, official practice session and pit walk were held in the morning and qualifying session started in the afternoon. This year new qualifying format was applied: qualifying session was changed from 25 minutes to 20 minutes and the average of the two best lap times (the best from each driver) will serve as the reference time for establishing the grid.  Aston Martin #99 qualified third in GTE Pro and #98 qualified second in GTE Am. 

On October 11, although it had been raining since the previous night, many motor race fans queued up under umbrellas for the autograph session of the drivers before the race.  In the grid walk, all the cars lined up in the starting position and Mr. Hayashi, ORI president, sent hearty cheers to the Aston's drivers and crews. This year, we enjoyed the new format of race start which is reminiscent of "Le Mans start", in which cars were lined up along the length of the pit. Then the race started at 11:00. 

It was still raining at that point, so the race started under safety car condition, but two cars were spinning on the wet circuit on the very first lap.  The race finally started after the safety car left at the 18th lap when the rain slowed a little. It was raining on and off but the road was getting dry little by little during the exciting battle.

All the 5 Aston Martin Racing's car completed the race including #98 standing on the second step of GTE Am podium.  The 2015 WEC 6 Hours of FUJI ended with an attendance record of 52,000 for 3 days. It will be held on October 16 at the same place, next year.

#97driver, Darren Turner in the center

Member of Osato Research Institute	Driver performance trainer, Mr. John Camilleri at right
Mechanics are working hard in the pit to keep the cars in good conditions.	An array of parts in the back yard of the pit
We brought FPP for the crew	Autograph hunters even in the paddock
Helmet of Darren Turner  with Immun' Âge logo	Darren Turner on his way to practice session
Autograph session at Pit walk	Qualifying session just started
Keeping eyes on qualifying session in the pit	Mt. Fuji seen from the paddock
Pit walk on the race day  So many fans in a queue	So friendly to his fans
Can you notice "Fujippy" on the machine? So funny!	Grid Walk before the race
Aston Martin Racing's Team Principal, Mr. John Gaw, second from the left	Performance of Japanese traditional Lion Dance
The race is about to start!	Flying spray like a fog
Aggressive performance at chicane	Pit-in
The road was getting dry little by little.	Engine sound is so powerful at the circuit.
Car # 98	All the 5 Aston cars managed to finish the race
Posing with Bibendum at VIP lounge	Podium