Team Abu Dhabi Proton fifth at 6 Hours of Fuji after puncture ends podium hopes

The Team Abu Dhabi Proton car in action during the 6 Hours of Fuji. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Racing

Team Abu Dhabi Proton finished Round 6 of the FIA World Endurance Championship in Fuji, Japan in fifth place after a puncture ended the team’s hopes of a podium finish.

Racing in the LMGTE Am category at a sodden Fuji circuit, Abu Dhabi Proton began the race at the back of the grid before spinning behind the safety car that led the race for the opening 16 laps.

Abu Dhabi Racing’s Porsche 911 RSR moved up to third over the course of the opening two hours with Christian Ried behind the wheel.

Khaled Al Qubaisi took over for the second session but struggled in the wet conditions, briefly moving up to second before dropping to seventh.

Earl Bamber took charge of the final two stints of the race and was consistently the fastest driver on the track, moving the team up to third place and on track for a podium place.

However, with 25 minutes remaining, Bamber suffered a puncture after being hit by an LMP 1 car on the right rear side. After pitting to fix the problem, Bamber resumed the race in sixth before negotiating his way up one place to end in fifth.

“We knew that Fuji would not be an easy race, we struggled at the beginning thanks to the terrible conditions,” Al Qubaisi said. “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. We were on course for a podium finish, but unfortunately an LMP1 car hit us on the rear right side resulting in a puncture. Of course it’s disappointing but these things happen in racing; 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 November 1.

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