Porsche was in bullish mood as it evaluated its title chances at this weekend’s World Endurance Championship finale in Bahrain. It is the manufacturer with the momentum in the title fight after thrusting itself right into contention with Ferrari, the points leaders in both the drivers’ and makes’ standings since the opening round in Qatar right back at the end of February. It reckoned there was everything to play for as it aims to bow out on a high as a factory from the WEC’s Hypercar class.
On the face of it, the task facing them on Saturday in the Bahrain 8 Hours would appear to be a tall order. If Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor are to retain the title won last year with Andre Lotterer, they will have to overhaul a 21-point deficit to the championship-leading Ferrari crew of Antonio Giovinazzi, James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi. What’s more there’s another Ferrari crew, Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson in the Le Mans 24 Hours-winning satellite entry eight points ahead of them in the standings - or 13 down on #51. The gap between Ferrari and Porsche in the manufacturers’ classification is 39 points.
