After securing the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship title, Porsche Penske Motorsport has its sights set on bringing the FIA WEC crown to Germany with its 963. Porsche tops the Manufacturers’ table heading into the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain while Kévin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor lead the Drivers’ championship. “We’ve improved considerably in the second year of our global programme and unfailingly made the most of our opportunities,” says Thomas Laudenbach, Porsche Motorsport Vice President. "I expect nothing less at the upcoming race weekend in Bahrain. If we approach our mission with the same concentration and consistency as in the previous rounds, then we’ll achieve our goal: 2024 World Champions in the manufacturer and driver categories."
Porsche Penske Motorsport has prepared the 963s for this season finale at its Mannheim factory as well as conducting a track test at the Weissach development centre.

“We have an incredibly exciting weekend ahead of us,”, says Vanthoor, who will take the wheel of the #6 Porsche 963. “Considering the championship standings, one might think that everything is wrapped up – but that’s definitely not the case!  It looks promising, but with 1.5 times as many points awarded in Bahrain, the standings are still wide open. If we manage to approach this competition with the same consistency and concentration as the previous races, maybe our high hopes will be fulfilled. Last year, we weren’t particularly strong in Bahrain. However, we’ve understood exactly why that was. We want to tap our true potential.”

Toyota Gazoo Racing's fate in its own hands

Toyota Gazoo Racing will be going all-out to see off Porsche and Ferrari and retain its Manufacturers’ championship title at the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain. The Japanese constructor has picked up two wins this season at the 6 Hours of Imola and the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo. A third success in Bahrain would see them wrap up the title for the sixth consecutive season. Toyota currently trails Porsche in the Manufacturers’ championship standings by 10 points. Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries still have a slim chance of taking the Drivers’ crown but, to do so, they must win the race with their teammate Mike Conway, and hope that the #6 Porsche crew strike a blank. It is worth noting that Toyota has won the last seven 8-hour races in Bahrain.

“It’s the end of an exciting and challenging season,” acknowledges Kamui Kobayashi, Team Principal and driver of the #7 car. “As a team we have enjoyed some great moments as well also some difficult ones, like the last race at Fuji Speedway. The competition has been incredibly tough all season but thanks to the big effort from everyone, we go into the last race with the destiny of the manufacturers’ World Championship still in our control. We know that a win will give us the title so that is our target, and everyone will give their maximum to achieve it. We need a perfect weekend and we’re ready for the challenge.”

Ferrari AF Corse plans to race for eight hours, then do the maths

Obviously, the Ferrari AF Corse camp harbours similar ambitions to Porsche Penske Motorsport and Toyota Gazoo Racing: win the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship. The prancing horse currently lies in third place in the Manufacturers’ table, 27 points behind Porsche. As for the Drivers’ standings, Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen are in second place, 35 points adrift of Lotterer, Estre and Vanthoor. Therefore, like Toyota, Ferrari must win the race to keep alive its hopes of scooping the title.

“As always, we head out onto the track to do our best.,” insists Antonio Fuoco, driver of the #50 Ferrari 499P and winner of this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. “We know that the 8 Hours of Bahrain will be an extremely challenging race, not least because our direct rivals have been highly competitive throughout the season and will be very determined heading into this last event. Our philosophy, however, is to pursue every avenue, and in this spirit, we approach a race that will be long and full of variables. As we saw in past seasons, we know that in Bahrain, the race result is always unpredictable."
Teammate Nicklas Nielsen adds: “Last year in Bahrain, we finished on the podium at the close of a demanding season. This year, we return to the Sakhir circuit knowing more about the track and our car. The race won’t be easy, but we must give it our all, and only after the 8 hours can we do the maths. After winning at Le Mans with Antonio and Miguel, my dream is to bring a world title to Maranello.”

As the curtain comes down on a gripping season, the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain promises a ferocious battle through to the final turn. Porsche Penske Motorsport, Toyota Gazoo Racing and Ferrari AF Corse are ready to give their all in their quest for the world title. Every second, every pit stop and every ounce of strategy could shake up the final standings.

The race will go green at 14:00 local time (UTC +3) on Saturday.