8H Bahrain 6 Hour update: No 8 Toyota in control as momentum swings back to Porsche in LMGTE Pro

Porsche now leads in LMGTE Pro as Kevin Estre takes James Calado for lead in sixth hour. 

In LMP2 Team WRT continue lead in LMP2 but are in a strategy battle with No.28 JOTA title rivals, while No.83 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE Evo is back in LMGTE Am lead. 

Below are the main headlines after six hours of racing.

Hypercar  

• Toyota Gazoo Racing remain 1-2 after four hours of racing in Bahrain 
• Brendon Hartley extends lead to No.7 Toyota before handing over to Sebastien Buemi in sixth hour 
• No.8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid Hypercar needed to have steering wheel change as presumed software small issue is tackled 
• No.7 Toyota sits 24-seconds in arrears to leader with Mike Conway having taken over wheel from Kamui Kobayashi 
• Alpine Elf Matmut make more progress after first hour gear selection problem. Andre Negrao at wheel as they come through to sixth place overall 

LMGTE Pro  

• Tooth-and-nail fight continues for race win and world GT title as Ferrari initially takes the advantage over Porsche 
• But No.92 Porsche 911 RSR pits under fourth full course yellow period and goes off strategy to title rival 
• Just before start of seventh hour James Calado hands over to Alessandro Pier Guidi who exits pits with fresh tyres 
• Italian immediately starts to set fastest sector times and fight is back on! 
• No.52 AF Corse Ferrari driven by Miguel Molina and Daniel Serra place third behind sister car as title fight is set to go down to the wire 
• No.91 Porsche 911 RSR fourth after losing small amount of time when left rear tyre gets stuck in sixth hour pit-stop. Gimmi Bruni at wheel after double stint by Frederic Makowiecki 

It's been 6 hours now that @FerrariRaces and @PorscheRaces are offering us a fair and intense fight. #WEC #8HBahrain pic.twitter.com/5lGmu9DJqM

— WEC (@FIAWEC) November 6, 2021

LMP2  

• Team WRT continue in lead as Robin Frijns takes over cockpit from double stinting Charles Milesi who consolidated lead at the front 
• No.28 JOTA still leads the chase for race and title as Stoffel Vandoorne looks to close down 17-second gap 
• United Autosports USA fightback still place third but are 30-seconds behind second placed JOTA car 
• No.38 JOTA of Anthony Davidson fourth and last car on lead LMP2 lap 
• LMP2 Pro/Am division is headed by Racing Team Nederland as Job van Uitert leads Realteam Racing Oreca-Gibson entry driven by Loic Duval. Gap between the pair is 16-seconds 

LMGTE Am   

• No.83 AF Corse look to take LMGTE Am title in style as Alessio Rovera extends lead  
• With TF Sport Aston Martin still in pits and out of contention Francois Perrodo and Niklas Nielsen are now guaranteed of second title in as many years 
• No.83 leads the No.56 Team Project 1 Porsche by almost a minute but is on an alternative strategy 
• No.47 Cetilar Racing Ferrari third but in tight with No.77 Dempsey Proton Porsche  
• No.98 Aston Martin and No.57 Kessel Racing Ferrari collide while battling for sixth place in class 
• Marcos Gomes loses diffusor and significant time in pits for repairs