Bahrain 8H – The #8 Toyota wins, the #7 champion

Kazuki Nakajima had the right to a successful farewell. If the pilot Toyota is not titled World ChampionEndurance this Saturday, November 6, the Japanese nevertheless won the last race of his career in the discipline, the title going to the crew of car no. 7 for the second year in a row. Already winners of 24 Hours of Le Mans, Mike conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria López complete a perfect season for the Japanese team, victorious in all six races of the season. It must be said that this Saturday, the two GR010 Hybrids only had to manage. L'Alpine A480 – Gibson actually saw the race slip away from him at the end of the first hour when Nicolas lapierre, although in the lead at the second corner after an excellent start, had to bring the blue prototype back into its box for the first time this season, the fault of a recalcitrant gear selector. Relegated to last place, the trio Andre Negro, Matthieu Vaxivière, Nicolas Lapierre had to work hard to get back on a podium obtained only with a Full Course Yellow with just over an hour to go. A sixth podium in six races for the A arrowed team, but six laps behind Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley.

Third place on the overall podium was long held by Team WRT of Robin Frijns, Ferdinand Habsburg and Charles Milesi. Once again qualified seventh, the crew of the Belgian team quickly climbed back to first place in the LM P2 peloton to never let go and win a second title this season after theELMS. The two JOTAs complete the podium of the race and the category with second place for the nº38 (Gonzalez, Felix da Costa, Davidson) ahead of the nº28 (Gelael, Vandoorne, Blomqvist). Anthony Davidson thus finished on the podium for the last race of his career. In Pro-Am, the title goes to Racing Team Nederland (van Eerd, van der Garde, van Uitert). The Batavian team was in the lead by one point with these 8 Hours of Bahrain, it secured its place by winning, with another perfect start by Giedo van der Garde.

In GTE Pro, the suspense held until the final laps since the Porsche GT Team nº92 (Estre, Jani, Christensent) had to be wary of a reinvigorated AF Corse nº51 until the end. After tough battles, James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi nevertheless had to lose in the championship against the Franco-Swiss duo. The Italian even sent Michael Christensen off the track at turn 14, a maneuver deemed illegal by the race direction, the Ferrari having to return the leadership position to the Porsche. Both cars nevertheless passed through the pits and Pier Guidi remained in front of the Porsche, despite a half-detached front hood. The transalpine crosses the finish line in the lead and clinches the title for Ferrari… before a penalty to come? Porsche lodged a complaint in any case.

AF Corse is nevertheless titled in GTE Am thanks to the success of the trio François Perrodo, Nicklas Nielsen, Alessio Rovera.

Discover the rankings for the 8 Hours of Bahrain HERE