Bahrain mid-race: Toyota and Porsche still lead respective classes
At the 8 Hours of Bahrain half-way point, it’s all to play for as several 2020 drivers’ and teams’ titles are still to be determined.
Weather conditions have been favourable with temperatures hovering around the late twenties. Tyrewear proving an ongoing difficulty for several teams due to abrasive track conditions. There has been one FCY to clear debris from the track three hours into the eight hour race.
Below are the main headlines after four hours of racing.
LMP1
• Toyota Gazoo Racing’s No. 7 TS050 HYBRID driven by Mike Conway, Jose Maria Lopez and and Kamui Kobayashi currently leads the sister No. 8 car by over a minute
• Relatively trouble-free race for both LMP1 entries so far as they battle for the FIA LMP FIA World Endurance Drivers’ Championship title with only six points separating both crews
• Both cars have completed five pit stops at the race’s half-way mark with the No. 7 car benefitting from the success handicap which has seen its sister car pegged back by 0.54s per lap
• Bahrain marks the final time that the hugely-successful Toyota TS050 HYBRID will be seen in competitive WEC action before it is replaced by the Hypercar for 2021
LMGTE Pro
• Pole-sitting No. 92 Porsche 911 RSR – 19 leads the LMGTE field after a solid drive by Kevin Estre and Michael Christensen
• No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari’s James Calado and Daniel Serra currently second, the duo benefiting from a timely FCY in the third hour which helped move them up the leaderboard
• In the intra-team battle for the 2020 drivers’ title between Aston Martin Racing’s No. 95 and No. 97, it’s the No. 95 driven by Maxime Martin and Richard Westbrook which is ahead in P3
LMP2
• Jackie Chan DC Racing leading LMP2 cars, the No. 37 car capitalising on a spin by pole-sitting United Autosports ORECA when Phil Hanson was at the wheel
• Filipe Albuquerque now in the cockpit of the No. 22 United ORECA and second in class
• Third is the JOTA entry equipped with Goodyear tyres after a drama-free race
• Signatech Alpine Elf fourth – the French squad fighting back after a small off in the race’s second hour with André Negrão at the wheel
• Racing Team Nederland and Cetilar Racing fifth and sixth respectively
Battle continues, @AlbuquerqueFil hunting @GabrielAubry8 for the LMP2 leading position.@UnitedAutosport @DCRacing_Team #8hBahrain #WEC pic.twitter.com/hTRxZQaCLw
— WEC (@FIAWEC) November 14, 2020
LMGTE Am
• Pole-sitting No. 98 Aston Martin Racing leads the LMGTE Am crews at the race’s half-way point, the only drama for the crew being a spin in the opening hour with Paul Dalla Lana at the wheel
• Battle for 2020 teams’ and drivers’ title looking favourable for current category leaders TF Sport who are now in P3. Title rivals AF Corse (No. 83) back of the field following a drive-through-penalty in the race’s second hour
• No. 57 Team Project 1 entry second in class with WEC newcomer Dylan Pereira currently at the wheel
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