8 Hours of Bahrain, a crucial race for the Ferrari

WECHyperCar

Nov 1

The 8 Hours of Bahrain will be a crucial race for the Ferrari-AF Corse team, arriving in the Middle East defending the lead in both world championship standings. In the run-up to the round awarding a total of 66 points (38 to the winner, 27 to the runner-up, plus 1 point for pole position), Ferrari retains its lead in the World Manufacturers’ Championship, while the drivers’ standings are led by Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi.

World Manufacturers’ Championship standing

Thanks to the victories at Qatar (#50 Ferrari 499P), Imola and Spa (#51 Ferrari 499P), a P2 at Spa, Le Mans (#83 win does not count) and Austin of the official Ferrari – AF Corse team, Ferrari heads the standings of the World Manufacturers’ Championship with 204 points, holding a 39- point advantage over Porsche and 61-point advantage over Cadillac.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Fuji Speedway. Both Official Ferrari 499P

World Drivers’ Championship standing

Pier Guidi–Calado–Giovinazzi, who share the #51 499P, lead the World Drivers’ Championship with 115 points, 13 clear of Ferrari official driver Yifei Ye, together with Robert Kubica and Phil Hanson, competing with the #83 499P entered by AF Corse. Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor follow with a 21-point gap in third place.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Spa-Francorchamps. Calado-Giovinazzi-Pier Guidi won the 6 hours race with #51 Ferrari 499P

Ferrari History at Bahrain

Ferrari has secured eight class wins – with GT cars – in the FIA World Endurance Championship on the Bahrain track, which in just a few years has become a benchmark for motorsport in the Middle East. The most recent came in 2024, when the Vista AF Corse 296 LMGT3 claimed victory with the crew of Ferrari official driver Alessio Rovera, together with Simon Mann and François Heriau; last year, the 499Ps finished 11th and 14th with the number 50 and 51 crews respectively.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Bahrain 2024. Class winning #55 Vista AF Corse 296 LMGT3 with Alessio Rovera, Simon Mann and François Heriau.

The track.

Traditionally hosting the FIA WEC season finale, the Bahrain International Circuit, inaugurated in 2004 in Sakhir, measures 5.412 kilometres and features 15 corners. The circuit stands out in the world championship calendar for its unique layout alternating long straights in every sector with corners of varying radius and speed; braking systems are put under particular strain here, while temperatures can change considerably between the start and the finish, which takes place well after sunset under floodlights.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Bahrain 2024. #51 Ferrari 499P with Calado-Giovinazzi-Pier Guidi

“The Bahrain circuit is very demanding, both for the cars and for the driver, but it allows for many overtaking opportunities, a feature that makes the race enjoyable,” explains Antonio Giovinazzi, who shares the 499P number 51 with Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Bahrain 2024. #51 Ferrari 499P with Calado-Giovinazzi-Pier Guidi

“The Sakhir track stands out from all the others,”continues the Italian driver. “Among the key elements are the varying temperatures and light conditions, given that we start in full daylight and finish well after sunset, with cooler air and under the lights.” Traditionally, the Bahrain 8 Hours, taking place at the end of the world championship season, has offered the public very competitive racing. “The points on offer are crucial,” Giovinazzi continues, “and the fact that there are many overtaking opportunities makes the race very lively. The public can witness a remarkable spectacle, and we drivers enjoy it too.”

The combination of high speeds and heavy braking is another characteristic of the Bahrain International Circuit. “Just think of the very long starting straight, where we reach extremely high speeds and arrive at turn one shifting from seventh to first gear. It is a very slow corner where it is extremely difficult to manage traction on exit,” explains the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans Centenary winning driver in detail. “Even in turn four, traction must be managed carefully due to the slope change that leads downhill towards turn five, the fastest of all, followed in succession by turns six and seven, where attacking the curbs is crucial.”

Among other critical points at Sakhir, Giovinazzi highlights is: “Turn eight, with a downhill braking zone where it is easy to lock the wheels,” and turn twelve, “which in qualifying is taken at full throttle, while in the race it is necessary to manage speed carefully to avoid subjecting the tyres to excessive wear.” Source: Ferrari.

AF Corse Ferrari 499P #83 — 📷 © Luc Warnotte at Fuji Speedway. AF Corse Ferrari 499P#83

Multi-year renewal for James Calado

James Calado will continue the collaboration with Ferrari thanks to a multi-year extension to its contract.

Ferrari 499P #51 — 📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans 2023. #51 Ferrari 499P winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Calado-Giovinazzi-Pier Guidi

Originally from Worcester, England, the Ferrari official driver won three Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ World Championships with the Maranello-based brand in the LMGTE Pro category of the FIA World Endurance Championship, in the 2017, 2021 and 2022 seasons, driving the AF Corse team’s 488 GTE alongside Alessandro Pier Guidi.

In addition to winning the overall victory at the Centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023 with the #51 499P, the Englishman achieved two LMGTE class victories in the legendary French race, in 2019 and 2021.

The British driver, born in 1989, has achieved 27 wins and 62 podium finishes with Ferrari over the 130 races contested with the Prancing Horse. His first podium came in 2014, when he finished third in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps at the wheel of the 458 Italia GT2. His first World Championship victory instead arrived in 2016, at the 6 Hours of Nürburgring, driving the 488 GTE.

In addition to his commitment behind the steering wheel of Ferrari GT3s, with which he won the 24 Hours at Daytona in the GTD Pro class in 2024, Calado has been competing in the top category of the World Endurance Championship at the wheel of the Ferrari 499P since the 2023 season. With this car, the Englishman has achieved three victories (Le Mans 2023, Imola and Spa 2025) and seven podium finishes in 22 races so far.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Fuji Speedway. Ferrari – AF Corse 499P #51

James Calado: “I’m delighted to remain in the Ferrari family as an official driver. I’ve achieved many successes with the Prancing Horse in recent years and I’m convinced that together we can pass some big chequered flags in the future as well. There’s recently been a lot of speculation about what I was going to do in the future. In reality, all I wanted was to keep on competing for Ferrari. Now we’re crossing our fingers because in a few days we’ll be in Bahrain for the last round of the FIA WEC, aiming to achieve our dreams of becoming world champions.” Source: Ferrari.

The programme.

Thursday, 6 November: two 90-minute free practice sessions, starting at 12.15 p.m. and 5 p.m.;

Friday, 7 November, free practice 3 (12 p.m.–1 p.m.) will be followed by qualifying (from 4.40 p.m.) and Hyperpole (from 5 p.m.) for the Hypercar class.

Saturday, 8 November, the race will start at 2 p.m. and finish at 10 p.m. (local times).

The following day, Sunday, 9 November, the Rookie Test will take place in Sakhir.