It is that time of the season when some drivers will have one eye on their race strategies and one on their calculator, as every point starts to count for those with title aspirations in 2014.
This weekend the title that could be conclusively settled is the World Endurance Cup for GT Drivers, as Ferrari's Gimmi Bruni and Toni Vilander are on the cusp of retaining the crown won by Bruni in 2013.
With a 50.5 points advantage over Frederic Makowiecki, Bruni and Vilander can afford to be cautious this weekend, knowing that an additional two point advantage going in to the 6 Hours of Bahrain in two weeks’ time will give them an unassailable lead. With 52 points available after the 6 Hours of Shanghai this weekend, the Italian and Finn would be uncatchable should they extend their lead by two points this Sunday. This would ensure they would be celebrating a world title on Sunday evening, should they achieve this.
Bruni and Vilander’s AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia has enjoyed a stellar season in 2014. Victories at Spa, Le Mans and Fuji, allied to a third at COTA and fourth at Silverstone has amassed a very impressive 131 points.
However, ‘Mako’ is one of the toughest competitors out there and, with his Porsche Team Manthey 911 RSR showing signs of major improvement after a difficult Fuji weekend, the Frenchman will be keen to ensure the title fight is extended as long as possible in 2014.
Of course anything is possible in endurance racing and the No.91 Porsche Team Manthey driver Richard Lietz still has faint title hopes himself, should some unlikely misfortunes befall Bruni, Vilander and Makowiecki. The Austrian sits third in the title chase but a huge 58 points behind the leaders.
Sam Smith
