The magnificent Bahrain International Circuit has warmly welcomed the FIA WEC’s 6 Hours of Bahrain for the last two years, and the race into darkness has provided tension and drama as well as some of the most stunning images of the championship. 2012’s race was held in hot temperatures at the end of September, while last year’s was considerably more comfortable for the drivers as it was held at the more temperate time of late November.
LMP1 and LMP2
The 2012 race was dominated by Audi who swept to a 1-2 victory with André Lotterer, Benoît Tréluyer and Marcel Fässler, one lap ahead of the No.2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro of Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen. Toyota led early in the race but had to pit for electrical repairs, ultimately retiring after a collision with a slower competitor. Strakka Racing’s HPD claimed third overall and won the LMP1 Privateer battle ahead of the No.12 Rebellion Lola Toyota of Jani-Prost.
Toyota took its first victory of the 2013 season at Bahrain, the No.8 TS030 Hybrid of Anthony Davidson, Sébastien Buemi and Stéphane Sarrazin winning a race of attrition which saw a retirement for both Toyota (engine) and Audi (drivetrain). The Japanese car took victory by 1m10s over the No.1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro of Lotterer-Tréluyer-Fässler. Rebellion Racing’s final race with the Lola-Toyota ended in spectacular fashion with an engine fire within the first two hours.
Pecom Racing’s Pierre Kaffer, Nic Minassian and Luís Pérez Companc won by two laps in LMP2 over Signatech-Nissan’s Jordan Tresson, Olivier Lombard and Franck Mailleux in the inaugural 6 Hours of Bahrain. One year later it was G-Drive Racing’s Roman Rusinov, John Martin and Mike Conway who swept to class victory, finishing third overall following the problems encountered by the LMP1s. Close behind the ORECA Nissan was the OAK Racing Morgan Nissan of Pla-Heinemeier Hansson-Brundle.
LMGTE Pro and Am
AF Corse’s Toni Vilander and Giancarlo Fisichella won 2012’s LMGTE Pro class battle in their Ferrari 458 Italia by a lap over Aston Martin Racing’s Darren Turner and Stefan Mücke. Team Felbermayr Proton’s Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz gained another podium for Porsche, coming home third in class. AF Corse Ferrari was also dominant in 2013, with Gianmaria Bruni and Vilander winning not just the race but LMGTE titles for the manufacturer, team and driver (Bruni) after Aston Martin suffered engine problems in both their Pro entries. Porsche AG Team Manthey’s Jörg Bergmeister and Patrick Pilet were 43 seconds behind and a lap ahead of AF Corse’s Kamui Kobayashi and Giancarlo Fisichella.
In 2012 Porsche won the LMGTE Am class with the Team Felbermayr-Proton 997 of Christian Ried, Gianluca Roda and Paolo Ruberti leading by a lap over the AF Corse Waltrip Ferrari of Kaufmann, Vickers and Aguas. Krohn Racing’s Ferrari came home third. Aston Martin Racing’s Christoffer Nygaard, Kristian Poulsen and Nicki Thiim gave the British manufacturer something to celebrate in 2013 with a class win over the 8Star Motorsports Ferrari of Potolicchio-Aguas-Rigon and AF 458 Italia of Perrodo-Collard-Griffin.
FIA WEC Fastest Race Laps
2012
LMP1 N.Lapierre Toyota TS030 Hybrid 1:47.128 181.9 kph
LMP2 J.Martin ADR-Delta ORECA 03 Nissan 1:53.349 171.9 kph
LMGTE Pro S.Mücke Aston Martin Vantage V8 2:02.297 159.3 kph
LMGTE Am J-P.Belloc Larbre Corvette C6.R 2:03.887 157.3 kph
2013
LMP1 A. Lotterer Audi R18 e-tron quattro1:44.183 187.0 kph
LMP2 N.Minassian Pecom ORECA 03 Nissan1:51.179 175.2 kph
LMGTE Pro K. Kobayashi AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia1:59.232 163.4 kph
LMGTE Am M.Griffin AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia 2:01.218 160.7 kph
Fiona Miller
Photos: BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT (BAHRAIN), 6 HOURS OF BAHRAIN. 1) The race into darkness adds to the challenge and atmosphere; 2) Audi's 1-2 finish in 2012; 3) No.24 OAK Racing Morgan Nissan in 2012; 4) The LMGTE Pro podium in 2013; 5) Aston Martin Racing's No.95 won LMGTE Am in 2013.
