Indonesia’s Sean Gelael returned to the top step of the FIA World Endurance Championship podium after teaming up with Darren Leung and Augusto Farfus to deliver a stunning LMGT3 victory for Team WRT’s BMW M4 GT3 EVO 32 at the 6 Hours of Fuji 2026.
The victory was anything but straightforward.
With qualifying and Hyperpole cancelled because of poor weather conditions, Team WRT 32 was forced to start the six-hour race from 14th on the grid. What followed was an impressive recovery drive that eventually transformed a difficult starting position into a class victory.
FROM P14 TO THE FRONT
Darren Leung took the opening stint for Team WRT and immediately went to work.
The British driver avoided the chaos of the opening lap and steadily moved through the LMGT3 field. His pace and consistency eventually brought the 32 BMW into the fight for the podium before handing the car over to Sean Gelael.
Gelael continued the charge during his stint.
The Indonesian driver delivered a strong performance, closing the gap to the cars ahead and making several precise overtaking moves. The BMW 32 eventually reached the front of the LMGT3 field, putting Team WRT in position to fight for victory.
But the final chapter was still to come.
FARFUS DELIVERS THE FINAL ATTACK
Augusto Farfus took over for the closing stint, and the experienced Brazilian suddenly found himself facing another major challenge when a late Safety Car compressed the field.
The restart dramatically reduced the advantage Team WRT had built, with Farfus dropping back as the battle intensified.
Instead of settling for damage limitation, however, Farfus went on the attack.
Running on fresh tyres, the BMW driver charged back through the field and began picking off his rivals one by one. With less than 20 minutes remaining, Farfus was back in contention for the win.
He eventually found a way past the Corvette ahead and reclaimed the lead for BMW M Team WRT 32.
The final minutes were tense as Aston Martin’s 27 continued to pressure Farfus all the way to the chequered flag.
Farfus held his nerve.
The BMW 32 crossed the finish line just 1.062 seconds ahead of the Aston Martin 27, securing a dramatic LMGT3 victory for Team WRT. The Corvette 34 completed the LMGT3 podium in third.
A VICTORY BUILT ON COMEBACK
The Fuji result marked the first victory of the 2026 WEC season for the combination of Sean Gelael, Darren Leung and Augusto Farfus, while giving Team WRT its second LMGT3 victory of the season.
For Gelael, the result is another important milestone in his endurance racing career and another memorable performance at Fuji Speedway.
After starting from P14, the 32 BMW had to fight through traffic, survive the opening-lap chaos and recover from a late Safety Car restart before finally taking the chequered flag at the front of the LMGT3 class.
Gelael was understandably delighted with the result.
“I am super happy with everyone. We made a lot of improvements at COTA and we were persistent in working hard. It wasn’t easy today, but in the end, everything came our way. Hopefully, we can continue this momentum.”
The result also keeps the fight for the 2026 WEC LMGT3 honours firmly alive as the championship heads toward its next round.
What makes this Fuji victory particularly impressive is not simply the final result, but the way Team WRT earned it.
Starting from P14 could easily have turned the race into a recovery exercise with limited expectations. Instead, Leung, Gelael and Farfus steadily transformed the race through pace, strategy and aggressive but calculated overtaking.
And Farfus’ late charge was the perfect finishing touch.
Endurance racing is rarely about being fastest for a single lap. It is about surviving six hours of pressure and being in the right position when the final opportunity arrives. At Fuji, Team WRT 32 did exactly that.
For Sean Gelael, the victory is another reminder that a difficult starting position does not necessarily determine how the story ends.
What do you think? Was Team WRT 32’s comeback from P14 one of Sean Gelael’s strongest WEC performances? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Adhe is part of the 88 Eight Box Editorial Team, covering JDM culture, motorsport, automotive technology, and industry news. The team focuses on delivering original automotive stories, reviews, and insights for enthusiasts worldwide.
