fter qualifying was cancelled due to heavy rain, the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 started the race at Fuji Speedway from 14th on the grid. Thanks to flawless performances from Magnussen, Marciello and Vanthoor, combined with a strong strategy, the trio worked its way into the top ten step by step. A safety car period in the final hour then moved BMW M Team WRT into podium contention, with Vanthoor eventually bringing the car home in third place for car #15’s third podium of the season.

Their teammates, meanwhile, leave Fuji with a difficult weekend behind them. The #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8 of René Rast (GER), Robin Frijns (NED) and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) dropped well down the order after several contacts through no fault of their own after almost two hours and eventually finished 13th. Rast and Frijns, who travelled to Fuji as the championship leaders, now occupy third place in the drivers’ standings, directly ahead of Magnussen and Marciello. BMW M Motorsport retained second place in the manufacturers’ standings.

Source: BMW M Motorsport