All to play for in LMP2

The FIA World Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Drivers has been one of the most fascinating of the WEC season so far.

After a lightening quick start, which saw three wins from the first four races, the No.38 Jackie Chan DC Racing trio of Ho-Pin Tung, Thomas Laurent and Oliver Jarvis have seen their advantage reduced in each of the last four rounds.

Bruno Senna and Julien Canal sit just ten points behind as they have taken their No.31 Vaillante Rebellion ORECA to a fine run of two victories, a second and a third place finish in the last four events.

The title fight looks like a straight fight between these two crews. Senna and Canal’s teammate Nicolas Prost cannot take the crown after missing the Nürburgring round in July.

The only way the title could be settled at Shanghai this weekend is if the Jackie Chan crew enjoy a 17 point swing over their closest rivals. This essentially means that should Tung, Laurent and Jarvis win again, and take pole, then Senna and Canal could finish no lower than fifth if they wanted to take a chance of the title on to Bahrain.

In short, no one other than the Jackie Chan DC Racing threesome can seal the title this weekend.

The only other possible title candidate is Gustavo Menezes from the No.36 Signatech Alpine squad. The American would need a favourable run of permutations (and a likely retirement of one of the top two) to retain his title as he is 25 points in arrears to Senna and Canal.

In the Teams’ race for the prize, the points table sees the same gaps as the drivers’ standings and, as such, the same permutations apply.