Corvette Duo Shines at Fuji as Koizumi Secures Historic Hyperpole Berth

In a thrilling display of performance and determination, the TF Sport Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R duo made history at the Fuji Speedway, with Hiroshi Koizumi securing a spot in the prestigious Hyperpole session for the first time. Alongside his teammate Tom Van Rompuy, who claimed a front-row start, the Japanese driver's impressive showing has set the stage for an exciting race in the FIA World Endurance Championship's (WEC) seventh round.

Corvette's Rising Dominance Shines Bright at Fuji

Hyperpole Breakthrough for Koizumi

The standout moment of the qualifying session was undoubtedly Hiroshi Koizumi's remarkable performance in the No. 82 Corvette. The Japanese driver, competing on his home turf, managed to secure a spot in the Hyperpole session, a first for him and the team. Koizumi's best lap of 1:41.310 (100.724 mph) equaled the team's best starting position of the season, matching their result at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.Koizumi's achievement is a testament to his growing confidence and the team's continued development of the Corvette Z06 GT3.R. The driver expressed his excitement and determination, stating, "I was happy to get into my first Hyperpole! I was aiming for pole position but ended up with P7. In tomorrow's race, we will win it!" Koizumi's home-track advantage and the team's familiarity with Fuji Speedway have clearly paid dividends, setting the stage for a thrilling race.

Van Rompuy Secures Front-Row Start

Alongside Koizumi's breakthrough, Tom Van Rompuy delivered a strong performance in the No. 81 Corvette, securing the second-fastest time in the Hyperpole session. Van Rompuy's best lap of 1:40.975 (101.097 mph) narrowly missed out on the Z06 GT3.R's second pole position of the season, falling just 0.082 seconds short.Van Rompuy's consistent performance throughout the weekend has been a key factor in the team's success. The Belgian driver expressed his satisfaction with the result, stating, "It's a very good starting position. Thanks to the team for keeping on working on the setup to give me a really good car. It felt really good and felt good on the lap. It's really tight, but we're on the front row. It's a good position from where to start tomorrow, and hopefully we can gain one more."

Continued Strength in Pace and Performance

The impressive qualifying results for both TF Sport Corvettes are a testament to the team's hard work and the inherent capabilities of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R. In the initial 12-minute qualifying session, the two Corvettes were within 0.3 seconds of each other, showcasing the remarkable consistency and competitiveness of the cars.Rui Andrade, Koizumi's teammate in the No. 81 Corvette, highlighted the team's progress, saying, "From the changes we made already for COTA, we saw that we had a lot of pace and were happy with the progression things had taken. We've maintained that for Fuji. It's a completely different track with different characteristics, but the Corvette still seems quick and strong compared to our competition, so I'm happy with that."The team's strong performance at the previous round, the Circuit of The Americas, where the No. 82 Corvette finished eighth in class and the No. 81 ran as high as second, has clearly carried over to Fuji Speedway. With the team's familiarity with the circuit and the continued development of the Corvette, the stage is set for a thrilling race on Sunday.

Fuji Speedway: A Hunting Ground for TF Sport

Fuji Speedway has proven to be a hunting ground for TF Sport, with the team's previous four visits to the 2.84-mile, 16-turn circuit yielding impressive results. The team has secured two race wins, a runner-up finish, and a pair of pole positions, showcasing their ability to excel on the challenging Japanese track.Daniel Juncadella, the factory Corvette driver who will share the No. 82 car with Koizumi and Sebastien Baud, expressed his confidence in the team's prospects, stating, "Since COTA, we have been very competitive. The Corvette has been very nice to drive, and we have been up there for every session. Now here for Hiroshi at Fuji, he can really feel it's his home race and he has some extra performance in him! This is a great starting position, and we have high expectations for tomorrow."With the team's proven track record at Fuji Speedway and the impressive qualifying performances of both Corvettes, the stage is set for an exhilarating race on Sunday. The TF Sport Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R duo will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with, as they aim to capitalize on their strong starting positions and secure a podium finish, or even a victory, in front of the passionate Japanese fans.