Bahrain countdown: one week to go!

In only one week's time, the FIA WEC will return to the Middle East for the Bapco 8 Hours of Bahrain (12-14 December). The race weekend forms part of the Bahrain National Day festivities, with the WEC’s three days of action and one day of official testing (Sunday 15 December) offering plenty of entertainment on and off track. Away from the track, the four-day festival will include several concerts together with a vast array of stunt shows, entertainers, bands, performers and the circuit’s famous fireworks show. The ticket price for the event is just 1 Bahraini Dinar per day for paddock and grandstand access. For ticketing information, please click HERE. Click HERE to view the latest version of the event timetable. Retrouvez ICI tous les articles de notre site en version française

Bahrain stat attack! Some of our favourite statistics from the WEC's previous visits to Bahrain. To date, 171 cars have combined for 28,844 racing laps at Bahrain International Circuit. The total distance covered equals 156,104 km, or 97,002 miles. Bahrain 2015 saw all 32 of the starters take the chequered flag 6 hours later. A combined 5,713 race laps - or 19,213 miles, were covered, in what became the first full-duration race with a 100% finish rate.  It is also the only circuit where Porsche, Aston Martin and Ferrari all swept the GTE fastest laps. Porsche set it in 2013 – by Lietz & Ruberti. Aston Martin in 2015 – Sørensen & Lamy, and again in 2016 – Adam & Lamy. Before Ferrari in 2017 – Rigon & Griffin. For more statistics, read the full story HERE.

Buemi back in Bahrain ‘Homeland’ Sébastien Buemi is looking forward to racing again at the upcoming Bapco 8 Hours of Bahrain as he hunts down a potential third WEC title.  The Toyota Gazoo Racing driver has an enviable record at the Middle Eastern venue having won on two occasions (2013 and 2017). In 2013, he took victory in the Japanese manufacturer’s first full WEC season as he partnered with Stéphane Sarrazin and Anthony Davidson. Click HERE to read more.

Peugeot teams up with Rebellion Racing for new Hypercar programme Earlier this week, it was announced that Peugeot will partner with Swiss-based team Rebellion Racing for its participation in the WEC from 2022 onwards. More news about the Peugeot hybrid-powered Hypercar programme is expected in the upcoming months.  To read more, please click HERE.

FIA Hall of Fame celebrates endurance! Earlier this week, the FIA Hall of Fame inducted past and present FIA World Endurance Champions at a star-studded ceremony in the heart of Paris.  Staged at the prestigious Automobile Club de France, 27 of the 29 FIA World Endurance Champions attended the ceremony which was hosted by FIA President Jean Todt and attended by ACO’s President Pierre Fillon, President of the FIA Endurance Commission Richard Mille and FIA WEC CEO, Gérard Neveu. Click HERE to view a selection of images from the event.

Jan Magnussen to test with High Class Racing in Bahrain Multiple 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner and North American sportscar champion Jan Magnussen is set to take part in the WEC Bahrain Rookie Test with Danish LMP2 team High Class Racing.  “I'm excited to get behind the wheel of High Class Racing's ORECA during the Bahrain Rookie Test,” said Magnussen. “It's been a long time since I've been behind the wheel of a prototype. I'm looking forward to learning the characteristics of the 07 chassis, which has been hugely successful since its debut in 2017.” The official test sessions at Bahrain International Circuit will run from 10h00 to 12h00 and from 13h00 to 16h00 on Sunday 15 December.  The latest test entry list can be found HERE.

Albuquerque explores home city in LMP2 car United Autosports’ LMP2 driver Filipe Albuquerque did a unique promotion ahead of the final ELMS race in Portimão recently where he drove his LMP2 car through his hometown of Coimbra in Portugal.  Albuquerque will be back on WEC duty for the Bapco 8 Hours of Bahrain next week. Watch the video below.