The FIA World Endurance Championship delivered two races in Asia of exceptional intensity, drama and excitement, but the final round of the 2016 championship at Bahrain International Circuit on Saturday 19 November is likely to be as passion-filled and emotional as any experienced.
Porsche secured its second consecutive World Endurance Manufacturers Championship with a dominant display from current World Champions Timo Bernhard, Mark Webber and Brendon Hartley in China, but its drivers Romain Dumas, Neel Jani and Marc Lieb will definitely be looking for a stronger run than they have had in Fuji and Shanghai in order to secure the Drivers’ title.
The LMP2 title was joyously clinched in Shanghai by French team Signatech Alpine, a fourth place finish being all that was required, while the LMP1 Private Team title has been in Rebellion Racing’s pocket since Fuji. However, the LMGTE Pro and Am championships are still wide open between drivers from Ferrari, Aston Martin and Ford, as is the coveted FIA World Endurance Cup for GT Manufacturers.
As in China, 31 cars will be on the grid for the Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain for the third WEC round which runs into darkness. The always-impressive Bahrain International Circuit at Sakhir is slightly different to Le Mans and COTA though as 5000 lights illuminate the 5.412kmtrack, turning night into daylight.
Aside from the top level WEC action, there is a comprehensive support race package from the Porsche GT3 Cup an MRF Challenge. However, much attention will undoubtedly fall in Bahrain on names synonymous with motorsport and endurance racing, names which are due to leave the WEC at the end of this season – Audi Sport and Mark Webber of Porsche. It’s going to be joyous, tense, emotional and a celebration of the very best of the FIA World Endurance Championship. Don’t miss it!
Porsche drivers to battle to the end for World title
Porsche has won six of the eight rounds so far and remains the target for its competitors. The No.1 919 Hybrid line up of Bernhard-Webber-Hartley has now won four of the last five races, turning around a difficult start to the season, but conversely the long-time championship leaders Dumas-Jani-Lieb from the No.2 Porsche has not finished on the podium since winning at Le Mans.
Toyota’s resurgence in recent races has put Stéphane Sarrazin, Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi to within 17 points of the title and the Japanese marque will be determined to follow up its victory in Japan. A double podium finish in China was great reward for hard work, but two punctures for the No.6 crew took away hopes of winning despite a strong attack in the closing stages.
A further 13.5 points behind are Audi Sport’s Loïc Duval, Lucas di Grassi and Oliver Jarvis and a second victory has been tantalisingly close in recent months. The last few races have been uncharacteristically trouble-filled for Audi Sport and, although leaving endurance racing, few would be unhappy to see Audi exit from the top step of the podium.
Rebellion Racing will also be leaving the LMP1 Private Team category at the end of this season and, while already holding its fifth successive title, the Swiss team will be hoping to leave the top prototype class on a high. ByKolles Racing Team, thrilled to score its first win in Shanghai, will of course be looking to boost its 2016 season with a second visit to the top step.
Battles in LMP2 right through to the final seconds
Signatech Alpine’s fourth place for Gustavo Menezes, Nicolas Lapierre and Stéphane Richelmi at the last round was enough to claim the LMP2 Team and Drivers’ titles, but RGR Sport and G-Drive Racing will be vying for second place from the start to the very end of the weekend in Bahrain.
René Rast returns to G-Drive Racing after the birth of his first child, replacing Will Stevens who has helped Roman Rusinov and Alex Brundle to two victories in the last two races. Among the 10-strong LMP2 field there will also be some familiar WEC names returning for the dance in the desert, including Giedo van der Garde who will be back alongside Sean Gelael in the No.30 ESM Ligier JS P2. The third driver in that car in Bahrain will be Tom Dillmann who drove in two rounds in 2015, winning the 6 Hours of Shanghai on his debut, and who this past weekend became 2016 Formula V8 Champion.
The No.45 Manor ORECA 05 Nissan will once again see Roberto Gonzalez of Mexico behind the wheel, joined by 2015 LMP2 champion Julien Canal and a third, yet-to-be-announced driver. All other line ups remain unchanged.
Ford may have dominated the last two rounds, but it is Ferrari and Aston Martin at the top of the GT Manufacturers’ standings with just 10 points between them. In the Drivers’ classifications, long-time leaders Marco Sørensen and Nicki Thiim of Aston Martin Racing have stretched their lead to 12 points ahead of nearest rivals Davide Rigon and Sam Bird of AF Corse, although neither pairing had a particularly happy weekend in China. Tensions will mount steadily between now and the chequered flag on 19 November.
The LMGTE Am Drivers Championship is tantalisingly close for points’ leaders, François Perrodo, Emmanuel Collard and Rui Aguas of the No.83 AF Corse Ferrari entry. With 25 points in hand, they need just one point to win the title but the second-placed line up of Paul Dalla Lana, Mathias Lauda and Pedro Lamy from the No.98 Aston Martin V8 Vantage is now on an upward charge having won four of the last five races.
Also hoping to repeat the strong performances of recent races will be regional favourite Abu Dhabi Proton Racing together with its Emirati driver Khaled Al Qubaisi. Pierre Ragues and Ricky Taylor in the No.50 Larbre Competition Chevrolet Corvette will be welcoming a new, still unannounced, team mate but all other line ups remain the same.
To see the latest Entry List CLICK HERE
For the Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain timetable CLICK HERE
