Following the ten week break since the 24 Hours of Le Mans, there is great enthusiasm and excitement throughout the FIA World Endurance Championship paddock as teams and drivers get together again for the fourth round of the season in Brazil. The 6 Hours of São Paulo takes place at 12 noon on Sunday 1st September, and Championship points will be at the front of all competitors’ minds as they take to the grid.
While Audi may appear to have the advantage over Toyota in the LMP1 Manufacturers World Championship, with 102 points to the German marque against the Japanese company’s 67, last year’s second half of the season proved that Toyota Racing is more than capable of closing the gap. The victory for McNish-Kristensen-Duval at Le Mans means they are at the top of the Drivers’ classification with 94 points, 30 ahead of their Audi team mates Lotterer-Tréluyer-Fässler. This last trio are in second place by the slimmest of margins – just one point – and Toyota Racing’s Davidson-Buemi-Sarrazin will be determined to redress that this weekend.
Rebellion Racing will have a clear run to the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP1 Private Teams with the withdrawal of Strakka Racing, and Prost-Heidfeld-Beche are the trio who are charged with that task until the end of the season.
Victory at Le Mans proved to be pivotal for OAK Racing who currently hold first and second places in the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 teams’ classification with 77 and 73 points. Argentinian team, Pecom Racing, is chasing them hard, just eight points behind in third place, some margin ahead of Greaves Motorsport on 34 points.
In the drivers’ standings, Baguette-Plowman-Gonzalez in the No.35 Morgan Nissan approach this weekend determined to consolidate their lead at the head of the table (77 points) and extend the four-point gap over their team mates. In the No.24 Onroak-designed car, Pla-Brundle-Heinemeier-Hansson will be battling in Brazil, the USA, Japan, China and Bahrain against Pecom’s Perez Companc-Minassian-Kaffer as well as the talented roster of drivers appearing for Greaves Motorsport, Delta-ADR, G-Drive Racing and Lotus. There is much to play for in this ever-competitive category.
For the full list of championship standings, click HERE
Fiona Miller
Photo: SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS CIRCUIT (SPA, BELGIUM), WEC 6 HOURS OF SPA FRANCORCHAMPS, SATURDAY 4TH MAY 2013. The drivers of the No.2 Audi now lead the World Endurance Drivers Championship.
