After promises of meteorologically-related doom for the weekend Friday has dawned as one of the most beautiful days of the winter so far here.

Fuji San looks absolutely magnificent and there’s just one final reminder at track level of the 12 inches plus of snow that sat here just a week or so ago!

That remaining snow sits close to the scrutineering bay, situated here at pit-in, a trot down to see the Audi Korea, Team Phoenix car though cut short as staff in the scrutineering bay were insistent that this is a ‘No Photography’ zone, Seems odd indeed that a process actively marketed to the public as well as the media for Le Mans in the Place de la Republique seems shrouded in secrecy elsewhere, what a shame!

The Audi though looks very much the part, Kyong Ouk You, Marchy Lee and 2016 Audi R8 LMS Cup Champion Alex Yoong will drive.

The Team BBT Ferrari is back in fine fettle for the weekend’s action after the substantial fire the car suffered en route to the grid in Zhuhai.

A brief chat with 2016 WEC LMP2 Champion and Jackie Chan DC Racing Zhuhai race winner Gustavo Menezes revealed a nuance in the Asian LMS rulebook will see the American complete the Series with the team despite his elevation to Gold status in the 2017 FIA Driver Rankings, the winter nature of the Asian LMS saw the inclusion in the Sporting Regulations of a rule that drivers may complete 2016/17 against their initial ranking at the start of the season.

Riki Christodoulou (cousin of 2016 Nurburgring 24 Hours winner Adam) is an addition to the entry in the Aylezo Ecotint Ginetta, he joins after a quiet time racing of late with GT4 starts (and a race win) in the last 12 months for PROSport in their Porsche Cayman

Work is underway at the circuit today to ensure that some form of live web streaming is provided for Sunday’s race, more details as we have them but the DSC Editor is likely to be on comms duties.

The support package for the weekend is a busy one, In addition to the Inter-Proto Series outlined yesterday the weekend will see single seater (FCR-F) Lotus Cup Japan and Kart races, the Wako’s Super Kart Fuji Series. The sight of the (very) rapid little karts slipstreaming down the main straight is truly something to see!