We came in with strong pace. I topped the C driver session in qualifying. It did not count toward the grid, but it was a clear signal of what the car could do. We started from P9 in a stacked field. Then came nightfall, and with it, the race changed. We were caught in a major incident that could have ended it all right there. One of those moments where everything pauses and the outcome hangs in silence. But the team moved instantly. The mechanics and engineers worked with quiet determination. Hours later, the car was back. A little scarred, but alive. From that point forward, it was no longer about position. It was about the finish. In endurance racing, that counts for more than people realize. We kept pushing, lap after lap. Another car retired. We gained a place. It was not dramatic, but it was earned. A reminder that perseverance matters.

The night brought fireworks. A tradition at Fuji that stops you in your tracks no matter what you are doing. Even in the middle of a demanding race, for a few seconds, everything else falls away. You remember why you love this. Why the struggle is worth it. Why this sport gets into your blood. We crossed the finish line in eighth. Not the result we hoped for, but a result earned the hard way. The car was beaten up, but it held together. The team was exhausted, but still sharp. What stood out the most was how the energy never faded. Inside the garage and inside the car, the spirit remained high. That is what got us through.