FIA WEC Season 2021: GTE @ 8 Hours of Bahrain

WEC

Nov 7

📷 8 Hours of Bahrein 2021 FIAWEC live tv.

Ferrari got the double by winning in both classes and clinching the PRO and AM titles. No discussion in GTE AM class where François Perrodo, Nicklas Nielsen and Alessio Rovera dominated the championship and the race. In GTE PRO class, it was a different story. Three days after Alessandro Pier Guidi took Michael Christensen out of track, Porsche decided not to go to the FIA’s International Court of Appeal. Ferrari was then officially crowned 2021 FIA World Endurance GTE Manufacturer’s Champion and James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi were named World Endurance GTE Driver’s Champions

GTE PRO: fantastic race but poor end

Terrific race in GTE Pro with a tough battle between the Porsches and the AF Corse Ferraris. Estre (Porsche #92) took the lead during the first 5’ but was overtaken by Calado (Ferrari #51) in the third lap. Not for long though, as Estre overtook him 6’ later after a nice-to-watch mano to mano between the two leaders of the championship.

After 55’, Calado was pushing Estre to overtake him 3’ later. 📷 6 Hours of Bahrein 2021 FIAWEC live tv.

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At the hour, the four GTE Pro pitted which enabled Bruni (Porsche #91) to take the lead in front of Calado and Estre.

After 2 hours and a short FCY, Porsche #91 was leading sister #92 with 1.7”. Ferrari #51 was 3rd, 2.1” behind and #52 was 4th, 5.9” behind AF Corse sister.

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At the third hour, all four cars pitted again within 2 laps. Ferrari #51 team was 3” quicker than the Porsche #92 team which enabled Ferrari #51 to take the lead in front of Porsche #92. Ferrari #52 was 3rd and Porsche #91 4th in a different pit stop strategy.

Halfway, Ferrari #51 was ahead of Porsche #92 by 3.5” followed by Ferrari #52 with a 0.5” delay. Porsche #91 was 4th, 13” behind the second Ferrari

5:20 Estre overtakes Calado in turn 1 after they drove the straight line in front of the pits wheel to wheel. A freshly tired Estre takes off and increases his leadership progressively. At 5:46 his lead is of 12.462”. They are in a different tire strategy and gambling to increase the lead before the end of the race when their tires will be more used and have less grip.

5:38 #91 pits; mechanics have difficulties fixing the rear right tire; the team loses time.

5:53 #51 pits for new tires and Pier Guidi takes over from Calado who kept the same tires during his double stint. Now Pier Guidi has to push to get to P1 being 20.855” behind Porsche #92. Ferrari #52 is 1:07.651 behind and Porsche #91, 55.497” behind.

5:58 #52 pits. 6:00 #92 pits

6:48 #92 pits: Christensen takes the wheel. #51 pits but Pier Guidi remains in the car. Both are tight on fuel and Porsche #92 has more used tires.

30’ to the end: Pier Guidi is 1” behind Christensen. His fresher tires enable him to make junction.

15’ to the end: both JOTA battling for P2 join the GTE battle creating a bit o confusion and Pier Guidi goes of track limits. With 19’ to the end, less than 1/2 second is separating both leaders!

10’ to the end: Christensen brakes in turn 14 behind Albuquerque’s Oreca #22, Pier Guidi cannot avoid the collision and gets the Porsche #92 spinning out of track.

Christensen goes back to pit for a splash-and-go, followed by Pier Guidi one lap later.

Pier Guidi will keep his position after slowing down during 10” and wins the GTE PRO race.

Three days later, Ferrari is officially crowned 2021 FIA World Endurance GTE Manufacturer’s Champion, and James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi are named World Endurance GTE Driver’s Champions.

GTE AM: AF Corse Ferrari #83 wins race and titles

The 1st hour of the GTE AM race was full of twists and turns. Among others:

15’: battle for 2nd between Fuji (Aston martin #777) who takes over Legge (Iron Lynx Ferrari #85);

20’: Francesco Castellacci driving AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE Evo #54 takes over Legge for P3; Perrodo (AF Corse Ferrari #83) attacks Legge.

30’: Al Qubaisi (Dempsey-Proton Porsche #88) overtakes Perrodo.

40’: Legge driving Ferrari #85 is 5th followed by Ferrari #83, Porsches #56 and #77 but loses her position as the three overtake her in turn 1.

Fuji gets a drive-through penalty after pushing Roberto Lacorte (Ferrari #47), then in P1.

60’ Castellacci (Ferrari #54) takes the lead from Lacorte (Ferrari #47).

After pitting and driver changes, Cetilar Racing Ferrari #47 takes back the lead in front of both AF Corse Ferrari #54 and 83.

After 10’, Ben Keating (#33 TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage) and Paul Dalla Lana (#98 AMR Aston Martin) make contact forcing both to pit for a tire change. It was the beginning of the end for titles challenger TF Sport, who will stay in the garage for a long repair, then come back, eventually, for one lap and finally retire with still 1:55’ to the end. It means the end for the team's slight chances to win the championships.

📷 6 Hours of Bahrein 2021 FIAWEC live tv.

After 2 hours, the beginning of the end rings for the Iron Dames as Legge’s Ferrari leaves lots of debris due to the contact with Aston martin #777 and has to go in the garage to repair de damages.

A bit later, Sarah Bovy (#85 Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GTE Evo) fights for P8 with Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche #88, then battles with sister Porsche #77. 📷 6 Hours of Bahrein 2021 FIAWEC live tv.

3:32’ Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin Vantage #98 and Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche #88 going for a little ballet… 88 stays in T1 causing FCY. 📷 6 Hours of Bahrein 2021 FIAWEC live tv.

After 5 hours, AF Corse Ferrari #83 is in the lead in front of Team Project 1 Porsche #56, Cetilar Racing Ferrari #47, Dempsey-Proton Porsche #77 and Kessel Racing Ferrari #57.

With 2 hours to the end, Cetillar Racing Ferrari #47 is back in the lead challenged by Dempsey-Proton Porsche #77, who eventually will take the lead. AF Corse Ferrari #83 and Team project 1 Porsche #56 follow. The four of them are within a minute.

At the end, Francois Perrodo, Alessio Rovera and Nicklas Nielsen with AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE Evo #83 win the race in front of Christian Ried, Jaxon Evans and Matt Campbell with Dempsey-Proton Porsche #77 and Egidio Perfetti, Matteo Cairoli and Riccardo Pera with Team project 1 Porsche #56.

The FIA Endurance Trophy for GTE AM Teams and Drivers’ ranking is almost in the same order with the TF Sport Aston Martin #33 of Ben Keating, Dylan Pereira and Felipe Fraga, which inserted in 2nd position.

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