Heinrich: Prototype Knowledge Helped Winning Suzuka Move

Porsche factory star Laurin Heinrich believes his prototype experience helped him pull off what turned out to be the winning move in the Suzuka 1000km, as an unorthodox Turn 7 pass set up the AO by Absolute 911 GT3 R Evo for victory.

Heinrich put the move on Christopher Mies’ Ford Mustang GT3 EVO at the long uphill left-hander formerly known as Dunlop corner just beyond the halfway mark of the Intercontinental GT Challenge enduro, taking a lead in the ‘Bushi Rex’-liveried No. 8 Porsche that the team would maintain all the way to the finish.

In the end, the pace advantage of the Porsche in the closing hours allowed Heinrich and co-drivers Alessio Picariello and Julien Andlauer to gap the Miedecke Motorsport/Team MPC Ford that had lead early on to the tune of some 51 seconds.

Heinrich’s move followed a mid-race safety car period that thrusted the No. 8 car into contention, as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship regular pulled off a string of passes to move from fifth to second before chasing down Mies for the lead.

Given the straight line speed advantage of the Mustang, Heinrich said he knew he would have to get creative to make a move stick.

“There were some big gaps building, and the safety car reset it more or less,” Heinrich told Sportscar365. “I knew it was still early in the race and I had to pick my moves wisely. I felt really comfortable in the car and it was suiting my driving style very well.

“I took really considerate decision making these moves and I had a lot of fun.

“It was not easy passing the Mustang just because the way the two cars produce the lap time is very different. I knew I had to make the move happen in the corner somehow, which is always a bit more spectacular.

“And then we had track position, which was key because our car was so strong in clean air. We managed to maintain this until the end, and that was key.”

Heinrich said that the element of surprise helped him complete the Turn 7 move, as he was able to pull off the critical pass at his first attempt at that location.

“I think I could really make use of my prototype experience,” explained Heinrich. “These GT3 cars are so heavily dependent on the aerodynamics and through the Esses there is a lot of effect going on with the downforce.

“I tried to offset myself early in the Esses to try and get a bit of clean air, even half a car’s width, and that’s exactly what I did in the long right of Turn 6.

“That allowed me to stay a bit longer on the throttle and go on the inside of Turn 7, and I think I surprised him a little bit because I had never tried it.

“It was my first try at that corner and that was also key to making the move.”

Victory for Heinrich follows a year on from a disappointing run to fifth for Origine Motorsport in last year’s Suzuka 1000km, impacted by floor issues that developed mid-race, and also marks the first time he has taken victory in an IGTC round.

It also came on his reunion with the AO outfit with which he won the 2024 GTD Pro title in the WeatherTech Championship.

“I always wanted to win at Suzuka, so I am really happy for that and to win an IGTC race for the first time ever,” said Heinrich.

“It’s one of the most spectacular races on the calendar and one of the big endurance races that you can only win in GT3. It was always my goal to win it, so to tick that one off after how unfortunate we were last year is a great result.”