+ Heinrich, Andlauer and Picariello earn Stuttgart’s first Summer Endurance Race win since 1994
+ Li seals IGTC Independent Cup crown with third win of the season
+ Team WRT, LM Corsa and Runup claim event’s class victories
+ Suzuka 1000km Result
AO by Absolute Racing gave Porsche its first Suzuka 1000km victory in more than 30 years as its crew of Julien Andlauer, Alessio Picariello and Laurin Heinrich charged to victory in the 50th Summer Endurance Race.
‘Bushi Rex’ took the lead at half distance thanks to a breathtaking performance from Heinrich, who overtook Nicky Catsburg's JMR Corvette and then Chris Mies' Miedecke By Team MPC Ford Mustang within a 30-minute spell. The AO crew remained out front as darkness fell over the Japanese circuit, ultimately taking the chequered flag by more than 50 seconds.
It marked Porsche's ninth IGTC win – and the second in succession following Lionspeed's victory at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa – as well as the brand's 12th at this event, the previous coming in 1994. Andlauer, Picariello, Heinrich and the team all became first-time outright race winners in IGTC.
The Miedecke/MPC Mustang finished second to give Ford its best-ever result at an IGTC event, while AO's sister Absolute Porsche was third to ensure that the Weissach brand earned maximum manufacturers' championship points.
Team WRT survived a late penalty to claim Bronze class victory in seventh overall. Dan Harper was penalised for contact, but the #69 BMW he shared with Anthony McIntosh and Parker Thompson was sufficiently clear of the opposition to hold on to its victory.
One spot back on the overall order and runner-up in Bronze went to High Class Racing's Porsche. This was the third win from four races for the team and Li Kerong – who shared with Joel Sturm and Anders Fjordbach – and sealed the IGTC Independent Cup title with a round to spare.
Pro-Am honours went to the #60 LM Corsa Ferrari of Kei Nakanishi, Shigekazu Wakisaka and Giancarlo Fisichella in 11th spot overall. The lone Am class entrant saw the finish, albeit 50 laps down, with the Runup Sports Nissan of Masaaki Nishikawa, Atsushi Tanaka and Tetsuya Tanaka placing 28th overall.
Full report to follow.
