Stat attack! Season 8 so far… Part 1

With a break in racing for the time being, FIAWEC.com takes a look back at the first five races of the year to reveal some of our favourite event-based stats. 

Next up in our stat attack series will be a rundown of top-line facts and figures from the LMP classes. With thanks to Alex Harrison from @WECData for the information.

1. Total distance – 84,523 miles have been covered in the 28 hours of racing in 2019/20. When comparing to the same rounds in previous seasons, it is the third most mileage, despite on paper two fewer hours of racing
2. Total laps completed – 25,700 laps of racing have taken place in 2019/20, the most at Bahrain with 7,083
3. Finishing percentage – To date, the season has seen a 95% finish rate, with 145 of the 153 entrants classified – the most retirements at an event was 4 in Bahrain. COTA saw all classified for just the fourth time ever (6%!)
4. Laps led – Three of the class leaders at present have led for more than 300 laps this season. Aston Martin #95 with 484 laps, United #22 with 340 laps, Toyota #7 with 337 laps. Two other cars have led over 300, TF Sport #90 327 and Toyota #8 320. Both of those sit second in their respective standings.
5. Team LNT has set the fastest event speed at four of the five outings this year, in the Ginetta G60-LT-P1, with the other by Rebellion. All by different drivers – Robertson, Orudzhev, Hanley, Smith, (and Menezes). Only Orudzhev’s was the fastest ever recorded at the circuit, his second top speed in the WEC alongside Spa.
6. After three fewer rounds than 2018/19 so far, Aston Martin’s Vantage AMR has already set the top speed in GTE Pro twice as many times as last season. Two by Thiim, two by Lynn.
7. Both Fuji and Bahrain saw all four winning cars lead the most laps in class – it is the first season since 2016 that multiple races have seen that feat occur.
8. Three drivers have joined the exclusive double-figure class wins club in 2019/20 – Nicki Thiim, Bruno Senna and Mike Conway. All three have won in multiple classes, whilst Shanghai saw Senna become the first driver to win in all four.
9. #8hBahrain and #6hCOTA marked only the second time ever, and first since 2016, where LMP2 and GTE Pro has seen consecutive wins in tandem. United Autosport’s #22 and Aston Martin Racing’s #95, repeating what G-Drive Racing #26 and Ford Performance #67 achieved in Japan and China four years ago.