The final round of the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship promises to be spectacular for competitors, fans and spectators and there is a packed schedule to be enjoyed both on and off track, culminating with the 6 Hours of Bahrain which will run into the night on Saturday, 30th November.
For the teams the week begins from Wednesday, 27th November with Technical and Administrative Scrutineering from 0930 to 1900 hours, with a final session on Thursday from 1000-1200 hours. On Wednesday afternoon there is also an opportunity for the many drivers who are new to the impressive Sakhir Circuit to get their first sight of the track and to be able to walk around it with their teammates and engineers.
After the drivers’ and team managers’ briefings at 1300 and 1315 hours respectively on Thursday, competitors will be taking to the track for the first time for a 90-minute free practice session from 1515-1645 hours. After some recovery time from the heat of the day, the drivers will return to the cockpit from 1930-2100 hours for a night practice session which will allow them to set their bearings in the dark.
A final one-hour practice is scheduled for Friday, 29th November from 1025-1125 hours before the afternoon’s qualifying sessions. The first of two Pit Walks for spectators will take place between 1300-1345 on Friday – during which time fans will be able to see the teams preparing their cars in the garages. The LMGTE Pro and Am categories kick things off for qualifying at 1545 hours, before handing over the track to the LMP1 and LMP2 classes at 1620 hours, each session lasting 25 minutes.
On Saturday, the big day, when championships will be won and titles awarded in the LMP2, LMGTE Pro and Am categories, the FIA WEC action begins off track with a pit walk (1245-1330) and a 30-minute driver autograph session (1250-1320). Pre-grid activities follow morning races from the MRF Championship, the BIC 2000 Championship and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge – the support race programmes having had practice and qualifying sessions on Thursday and Friday.
The green flag will drop for the 6 Hours of Bahrain at 1500 hours for an outstanding extravaganza of racing on the ultra-modern circuit, itself situated amid a traditional Bahraini setting. Who will be crowned champions alongside Audi and its drivers in LMP1? There’s not long now to find out!
Photo: (Jeff Carter, MacLean Photographic) SAKHIR (BAHRAIN), BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, 6 HOURS OF BAHRAIN, 27 NOVEMBER 2013.
