Monday, November 18th, 2024 - Nakahinata, Japan
Photo by Nathan Deering
By Nathan Deering
The Fuji 8 Hours proved to be a thrilling event for every team that participated, highlighting teamwork, strategy, and perseverance. Here are recaps from four teams that showcased their skills across the weekend.
Hyperion VI: From Mid-Pack to Victory Lane
- Drivers: Floyd Kerr, Luke Wallace, Turner Schroll
- Qualifying: P15
- Result: P1
The team committed over 20 hours of preparation leading up to the event. Nightly practice sessions and strategic discussions paid off with a dominant race day performance.
Race Highlights:
Floyd started the race strong, moving from P15 to P5 within his first stint. Opting to forgo fuel saving allowed him to push harder, ultimately climbing to P3 before handing the car to Luke.
Luke took the wheel and immediately went on the offensive, overtaking the leaders within five laps. Despite minor damage from aggressive lapped traffic, he maintained a solid lead before Turner’s turn.
Turner navigated lapped traffic masterfully, maintaining the team’s position. A strategic early pit call handed the car back to Floyd for the final double stint.
Floyd capitalized on clean laps and consistency, extending the lead to 18 seconds by the checkered flag. A flawless race ended with a win and 281 laps completed.
Hyperion I: A Strategic Fourth
- Drivers: Ben Roberts, Alexander Kurz
- Qualifying: P17
- Result: P4
This duo showed that strategic planning could elevate their result. After a week of testing cars, the team made their final choice Friday night—a decision that paid off handsomely. This win marks Luke's first win under the Hyperion banner, hopefully being the first of many.
Race Highlights:
Alex started the race, gaining positions quickly and finishing his first double stint in P11. Ben followed, initially struggling with fuel targets but finding rhythm later in the stint.
Alex's consistent pace shined in his subsequent stints, recovering positions and setting the stage for a strong finish. Fuel strategy allowed the team to skip a late splash, earning an unexpected P4 finish.
Hyperion II: A Tough but Rewarding Battle
- Drivers: Sek Yin Ho, Willy Brennan, Camden Kraft
- Qualifying: P47
- Result: P22
Qualifying last in a highly competitive field didn’t deter this team. Testing multiple setups throughout the week helped establish a foundation for race day.
Race Highlights:
Sek's opening double stint featured excellent pace and fuel saving, keeping their strategy intact despite the grid position. Camden followed, slightly off the planned fuel target but managing to adapt.
Willy contributed solid, consistent laps but opted to yield the car back to Camden for the final stints. Camden’s defensive driving secured P22 in a competitive field, marking a commendable result.
Hyperion IV: Lessons Learned on a New Track
- Drivers: Greg Conaway, Josiah Farrow, Matt Brewer
- Qualifying: P22
- Result: P11
For Greg, Fuji was a brand-new challenge. The team’s focus during practice was balancing speed and comfort while helping Greg familiarize himself with the track.
Race Highlights:
Josiah’s opening stint was a masterclass, climbing to P11 before an incident dropped them to P30. Recovering positions quickly, he handed the car to Greg, who kept it clean despite being off pace.
Josiah’s second stint brought the car back into contention. Matt sealed the race with a spirited final stint, holding off a faster car in the closing laps to secure P11.
Hyperion III & Hyperion V
Hyperion III piloted by Derek Hyberger, Sam Shreves & Josiah Farrow finished a respectable P8 after having issues in their first attempt. Hyperion V piloted by Alex Rogers and Adam Thomas finished P42 due to some technical issues.
Closing Thoughts
The Fuji 8 Hours tested every team's preparation, adaptability, and endurance. From strategic wins to resilient comebacks, each story is a testament to the dedication and passion of sim racing competitors. Congratulations to all teams for their efforts and results!
Believe the HYPE!
Stream Link:
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2302782923
Hyperion Links:
https://www.twitch.tv/hyperionracingg