Gianmaria Bruni, Ferrari and AF Corse took all three titles in the GTE Pro category at the close of an extraordinary “Bahrain 6 Hours”, the final round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
At Sakhir, Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander – in their No51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia – took the chequered flag in first position giving the three titles. Giancarlo Fisichella, who played a key role in Bruni’s successes earlier in the year, is vice-champion: in Bahrain, the former F1 driver raced together with Kamui Kobayashi to maximise the team’s chances of success.
Starting from fourth on the grid, the two drivers and their No 51 Ferrari moved into a solid lead after the first pit stop (at the end of the first hour), maintaining it from then on. No one could match their pace and their rivals were given no chance as could be seen from the 43-second lead over the Bergmeister-Pilet Porsche at the chequered flag: proof of what a great day it was for the 458 GT2.
The other Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 in the GTE Pro class, driven by Fisichella and Kobayashi, finished third in Bahrain making it a double podium at the end of the race for Ferrari and AF Corse.
GTE AM - A great day was completed by 8Star Motorsports taking the team title in the LMGTE Am category, thanks to a second place for Enzo Potolicchio, Rui Aguas and Davide Rigon in their 458 Italia #81. Potolicchio and Aguas are second in the Drivers’ standings. Adding in a third place, thanks to a great performance from Matt Griffin, François Perrodo and Emmanuel Collard in the AF Corse Ferrari 458 #61, the FIA World Endurance Championship ended for Ferrari and AF Corse in the best way possible.
MONTEZEMOLO PLEASED – Ferrari SpA President Luca di Montezemolo was very pleased to hear about the triumphant performance from the 458 GT2 in the FIA World Endurance Championship. “I am very happy that we have won everything for a second consecutive year,” he told www.ferrari.com. “This result rewards AF Corse’s efforts and consistency and I congratulate them on it. I am also very pleased to see an Italian driver crowned world champion: Bruni has been with us for a long time now and he deserves this victory. The 458 Italia is an amazing car and what it has achieved over the past years on the racing front confirms that fact.”
Photo: BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT (SAKHIR, BAHRAIN), 6 HOURS OF BAHRAIN, SATURDAY 30 NOVEMBER 3013, RACE. The No.51 Ferrari raced to LMGTE Pro victory in more ways than one!
