Team Abu Dhabi-Proton finished a difficult day’s racing in fifth place at a waterlogged Fuji circuit in Japan.
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Wet and humid conditions plagued round 6 of the World Endurance Championship making racing conditions very difficult.
Humidity on the track was at 95% and the race started behind the safety car due to wet conditions. Team Abu Dhabi-Proton Racing was at the back of the grid when the race got underway after spinning behind the safety car that was on the track for 16 laps.
When racing recommenced, Christian Ried was in fifth position but managed to climb two places to third over the next hour. Khaled Al Qubaisi fought his way up to second following a number of strategic pit stops, but a spin dropped the team down to seventh.
Earl Bamber took over from Al Qubaisi for the final stages of the race and was consistently the fastest man on the track in the LMGTEAm class, moving into third place.
However with 25 minutes to go, Bamber suffered a puncture after being hit by an LMP1 car on the rear right side. Bamber had to pit in order to fix the puncture which agonisingly dropped him back down to sixth.
Bamber managed to make up one place in the final minutes of the race to cross the line in fifth position overall.
#WEC #6hFuji Team #AbuDhabiProtonRacing podium hopes dashed by puncture! http://t.co/bpmFiR8uSX #AbuDhabiRacing pic.twitter.com/8tWVnOJqPG
— AbuDhabiRacing (@AbuDhabiRacing1) October 11, 2015
Commenting on the race, Al Qubaisi said: “We knew that Fuji would not be an easy race, we struggled at the beginning thanks to the terrible conditions. However, we had a great car and the set-up was excellent so by the end of the race we were consistently putting in the fastest the lap times. Now we have to focus on the next round in Shanghai.
“I would like to congratulate our sister car from Team Dempsey-Proton Racing and my friend Patrick Dempsey on winning the race.” The next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (Round 7) is the 6hrs of Shanghai taking place on the 1st of November.
