Fuji Speedway Race Report – Transatlantic Sim Racing, LMGT3 Challenge
Date: 06-10-2025
Dry and warm, light scattered cloud, ambient 26°C - perfect racing conditions for the opener of the Transatlantic Sim Racing LMGT3 campaign at the iconic Fuji Speedway.
As the lights went out for 60 minutes of high-paced, strategy-heavy action under the shadow of Mount Fuji, drama and tension were served in equal measure. With a bustling grid split into fiercely competitive PRO and AM classes, the Transatlantic Sim Racing LMGT3 Championship started on a true classic circuit – and it did not disappoint.
Podium Results
LMGT3 - PRO
- Patrick Stein (Lexus RCF LMGT3)
- Xander Huizing (Ferrari 296 GT3 2023)
- Nigel Wood (BMW M4 GT3)
LMGT3 - AM
- Mike Landreth (Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3)
- Jonas Knoefel (BMW M4 GT3)
- Christian Hall (Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3)
Race Summary
The PRO class was set to be a fight between qualifying sensation Xander Huizing in the Ferrari and the ever calm Patrick Stein in the Lexus. Stein, despite dropping to P10 after a dramatic lap 3 spin and light barrier tap, staged a remarkable recovery, relying not just on raw pace but a masterclass in fuel saving. The Lexus made it to the line with mere drops of fuel and a slender margin to Huizing, who’d led much of the race but was forced to make a late splash for fuel. BMW’s Nigel Wood completed the podium after his own eventful and strategic drive.
In AM, Mike Landreth controlled proceedings in the Aston, calmly negotiating both class rivals and some nervy moments in traffic to secure an early championship lead. Jonas Knoefel (BMW) and Christian Hall (Aston) rounded out a competitive AM podium after battling through mid-race pit cycles and backmarker traffic.
Elsewhere, tactical battles raged: some competitors desperate to eek out a single stop, others forced into swift "splash and dash" refuelling as the two-times fuel multiplier caught out even experienced runners. Costly errors, a spin for Alan Axon, misjudged fuel calculations for Ian Paskin, meant both left Fuji wondering what might have been.
As we look ahead to Monza’s longer 90-minute race on the Curva Grande layout, lessons from this strategy-packed opener will no doubt shape every team’s approach to fuel, tyre, and pitwork.
Full Standings:
Transatlantic Sim Racing Standings on SimGrid
Driver Interviews – Ted Delaney
Patrick Stein – Lexus RCF LMGT3 PRO, P2 in Quali, Race Winner
Ted: Patrick, P2 today – half a second off your personal best. Happy with that, or wishing for a bit more?
Patrick: Qualifying was OK, but Xander’s lap was absolutely mega – even with my best I wouldn’t have matched him. Still, P2 is more than good enough to fight from; the race is where it matters.
Ted: Patrick, Onto the Race, that had everything – drama early on, recovery drive, and an incredible fuel-saving finish. Walk us through it?
Patrick: It was chaos after lap 3 – I lost the rear at Turn 13 and got a helping nudge from Nigel, no blame to him. Spun to P10, a bit of damage, but just focused on picking people off without wasting time. Had to do plenty of fuel saving to stick to the one-stop, especially after all that fighting, but once I saw the leaders were likely to pit again, I knew if I kept it clean, there was a chance. Crossed the line with almost nothing left, but it worked!
Ted: Did you ever think the win was gone after the spin?
Patrick: Honestly, yes. I thought it was race over for victory. Huge relief and satisfaction to pull it back.
Eduardo Daroca – Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 PRO, P4 in Quali, P4 in class
Ted: Eduardo, first race in the Porsche for you – P4 on the grid. Content with that?
Eduardo: Yes, I’m happy with fourth. The top guys are absolutely flying, so being near them is already a good sign. Maybe a tenth or two left on the table but overall, very positive.
Ted: Eduardo, strong pace and a late charge to P4. Happy with the Porsche’s debut?
Eduardo: Very much so, Ted. It was my first race in the car and honestly, I enjoyed it a lot. Tried to stay with the leaders but got stuck behind Si (Fillingham) early – couldn’t get by, so switched to an early stop. If everyone else had to stop twice I’d have been right up there, but a few managed their fuel so well. The last lap was frantic, made two passes, so I’m delighted overall.
Ted: Did you feel you had podium pace with a bit of luck?
Eduardo: Maybe! The potential is there. On to Monza next time.
Ian Paskin – BMW M4 GT3 PRO, P6 in Quali, P6 in Class
Ted: Ian, switching from McLaren to BMW, how has that affected your Saturday pace?
Ian: Still getting used to the BMW, it’s a different beast. Qualifying was a bit tricky, couldn’t quite nail the front end, but P6 was respectable. Need to unlock that last half a second.
Ted: Ian, moving onto the race, you were well in the thick of things, but the “splash and dash” at the end dropped you back. What happened?
Ian: I thought making one stop was impossible, so I planned for a late splash, but fair play to those who stretched their tanks – they caught me out there. Still, good learning – I jumped a couple of people in the pits earlier which was nice, but need to pay more attention to fuel from now on.
Ted: New car, new season – are you confident for Monza?
Ian: Absolutely, still learning, but plenty left to come.
Alan Axon – Lexus RCF LMGT3 PRO, P5 in Quali, P5 in Class
Ted: Alan, another steady performance – any surprises in the session?
Alan: Not really, just the usual for me. I’m not the world’s best qualifier! Made a couple of mistakes but happy to be in the hunt.
Ted: Alan, In the race you were right in the mix, but a spin on cold tyres after the pit cost you dearly. What’s the feeling?
Alan: Bit of a rookie error, I suppose! Stopping just past halfway, strong position, but pushed too hard on the outlap and spun at T6. Lost a chunk of time and had to wait for traffic. Might have been in the fight for the win otherwise – who knows? Solid strategy otherwise, and finished with plenty of fuel, so plenty to build on.
Looking Ahead
With Monza’s high-speed drama and a 90-minute stretch next time out, we asked the drivers: with strategy so important at Fuji, will the Italian classic put an even bigger focus on tactics, or will outright pace rule the day? All agreed: after Fuji, no one will dare underestimate the power of a well-executed fuel and pit plan in this year’s Transatlantic Sim Racing LMGT3 championship!
Reporting trackside from Fuji, Ted Delaney