Overview
- The race director halted and then canceled qualifying on Saturday after AF Corse driver Francois Heriau aquaplaned into the barrier, prompting a red flag about 75 seconds into the session and a safety-based decision to stop running.
- Per Article 10.2.2 of the FIA WEC sporting regulations the starting order was determined from the combined fastest laps in the three free practices, which awarded the #36 Alpine pole and placed both Alpine cars on the front row.
- A two-place grid penalty applied to the #007 Aston Martin after Harry Tincknell collided with a Heart‑of‑Racing Aston during the wet third practice, costing Aston a front-row start and promoting Alpine’s second car.
- The six Hours of Fuji remains scheduled to start Sunday at 11:00 local time (04:00 CEST) and forecasts indicate improved conditions compared with the heavy rain and fog that disrupted qualifying.
- Teams now must revise race plans because dry free‑practice pace, wet‑session incidents and the unusual grid-setting method reshuffled expected starting positions and may change stint lengths, driver stints and early pit strategies.