APEX RACEWIRE Newsroom
Alpine Claims Maiden WEC Pole at Fuji After Rain Cancels Qualifying
Heavy rain and fog at Fuji Speedway forced the cancellation of qualifying, handing Alpine its first World Endurance Championship pole position based on practice times.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-09-26T07:08:00.000Z - 3 min read
Alpine is set to command the front row for the upcoming 6 Hours of Fuji after adverse weather conditions forced the total cancellation of both qualifying and Hyperpole sessions at Fuji Speedway this afternoon. A heavy downpour rolled over the circuit just as the LMGT3 qualifying session got underway. The initial track action started on schedule before race control was forced to wave the red flags following an off-track excursion by François Heriau behind the wheel of the number 21 Vista AF Corse Ferrari.
As weather forecasts predicted intensifying rain alongside heavy fog closing in around the venue, officials made the definitive call to abandon any further qualifying runs. With track sessions halted indefinitely, the starting grid was determined strictly by the rulebook using the fastest lap times recorded across the three Free Practice sessions held throughout Friday and Saturday morning. This regulatory fallback paved the way for a historic milestone for the French manufacturer in the World Endurance Championship.
Victor Martins cemented the landmark result by utilizing a lap time of one minute and forty point five nine four seconds set during the second free practice session. That single effort secured the number 36 Alpine A424 Hypercar the top spot on the starting grid, marking the very first WEC pole position for the prototype machine. The achievement represents a major breakthrough for the team as they prepare for tomorrow's endurance contest.
The celebrations in the Alpine garage expanded further when the sister number 35 entry locked out the front row alongside the pole-sitting car. Placing both Hypercars at the very front of the field leaves the French manufacturer in an ideal defensive position to protect the victory they secured at the venue last season. Behind them on the provisional grid, the number 007 Aston Martin Valkyrie originally qualified second but suffered a setback.
A post-session penalty handed to the Aston Martin squad for a collision during the morning free practice session dropped them down to fourth position on the starting order. Consequently, the number 17 Genesis Magma Hypercar was elevated to start from the third position on the grid. This adjustment rewards the Korean manufacturer with by far its highest starting position since entering the championship.
Meanwhile, the LMGT3 category saw the number 77 Proton Competition Ford Mustang inherit the class pole position after posting the quickest time during Friday afternoon's second practice session. The result marks a notable return to the front for the American muscle car, representing the first LMGT3 pole for a Ford Mustang since the Lone Star Le Mans event held at Circuit of the Americas in September of the previous year. Teams must now pivot their strategies entirely toward race setups with no dry-weather qualifying data to lean on.