Alessio Rovera makes the shot at Fuji
Alessio Rovera makes the shot at Fuji
Making his overall debut in Japan, Alessio Rovera returns to rejoice from the top step of the LMP2 Pro-Am class rainbow podium at the 6 Hours of Fuji, penultimate round of the World Endurance Championship. The 27-year-old official Ferrari driver from Varese won by alternating with crewmates François Perrodo and Nicklas Nielsen at the wheel of the Gibson-powered Oreca 07 of the AF Corse team, which started from second position on the LMP2 grid. Rovera got into the prototype to run the middle stints of a fairly straightforward race (not even a safety car or full course yellow in 6 hours) and one that was worth a lot in terms of the championship ahead of the grand finale.
The success achieved by the trio of the Italian team is in fact the third in the season out of 5 rainbow races, but precisely in the FIA WEC it had been missing since last May, when they imposed themselves at Spa. In addition, the full points scored on the Japanese circuit that rises in Oyama brings Alessio and his teammates back to the top of the standings, but with only an 8-point lead over their closest pursuers. The challenge for the title will therefore be decided only on November 12 in the last world round at the 8 Hours of Bahrain, which by the way assigns an increased score (coefficient 1.5). In two months’ time the hour of truth in the FIA World Endurance Championship will therefore strike, in the meantime the close-knit AF Corse crew will be busy in the season finale of the European Le Mans Series, first at Spa and then at Portimao.
“In my first time in Japan it was really intense to experience such a challenging weekend and always at the top. With the team and my teammates we worked well during the free practice sessions and the results came right from qualifying. In the race we didn’t suffer any particular problems, it was a crucial appointment and we passed it in the best possible way, but the title chase is completely open. We have no advantages to manage, in Bahrain even the slightest detail could make the difference, only first place will count. In any case at Fuji we also returned to winning in the World Championship after Sebring and Spa. Despite the fact that we had already won two weeks ago in Barcelona in the European ELMS series, regaining a rainbow success was also important to finally put the setbacks of Le Mans and Monza behind us and start again with renewed motivation,” Rovera said after the race.
