The forthcoming Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain (6-8 November) is set to bring down the curtain on a thrilling 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship campaign, with the event entry list featuring a number of changes compared to last month’s 6 Hours of Fuji.
Travelling to Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), the destiny of the coveted Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ crowns in the headlining Hypercar class remains undecided. Ferrari leads the way in both battles, as the Prancing Horse aims to cap a superb season with a first world championship trophy for its 499P.
The iconic Italian marque holds a 39-point advantage at the summit of the Manufacturers’ standings – with 66 remaining in play – while two of the team’s three crews are similarly in the hunt for Drivers’ honours, with the first-placed #51 sitting 13 points ahead of the independently-run #83 entry in second.
Closest rival Porsche, however, is redoubling its efforts to spring a late surprise. Following a torrid start to proceedings in 2025, the German carmaker has come on increasingly strong in recent rounds, with the #6 finishing runner-up at Le Mans, winning at COTA and reaching the rostrum again in Japan – hauling defending champions Kévin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor into the mix to steal Ferrari’s thunder.
The Frenchman and Belgian will be bolstered in Bahrain by Matt Campbell, who played a part in their Texan triumph, while there is a new name in the sister #5 Porsche 963, as highly-rated young German Laurin Heinrich prepares to make his FIA WEC debut alongside Julien Andlauer and Mathieu Jaminet. The former Porsche ‘Junior’ won IMSA’s GTD Pro category last year behind the wheel of AO Racing’s 911 GT3 R (992), affectionately nicknamed ‘Rexy’.
Another fresh face in the field will be 2023 FIA Formula 2 Champion Théo Pourchaire, who takes the place of Stoffel Vandoorne in the #94 Peugeot ahead of a full-season assault with the French manufacturer in 2026. The 22-year-old rising star got his maiden taste of the 9X8 Hypercar during last November’s ‘Rookie Test’ in Bahrain.
Aston Martin, for its part, is welcoming back Ross Gunn and Roman De Angelis to its pair of Valkyrie Hypercars for the first time since June’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, as the famous British brand bids to build upon its finest performance and result to-date in FIA WEC’s top-tier at Fuji.
At LMGT3 level, meanwhile, there might not be any surprises on the entry list for the season finale, but plenty of surprises are possible over the course of eight hours of hard-fought competition from day into night around the demanding, 5.412km BIC.
Reigning champions Manthey 1st Phorm are endeavouring to fend off the threat of VISTA AF Corse and TF Sport as they strive to maintain the German outfit’s unbroken title run in the category. The stakes could not be higher.
Check out the full line-up for the 2025 Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain.
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