FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019 12 Rebellion go top under lights Rebellion Racing triumphed in second WEC practice at BIC TDT | Manama off the leading pace. In first place amongst the he spirt of was LMGTE Pro cars was the no. 97 alive once again at Bah- Aston Martin Vantage AMR of Train International Cir- Alexander Lynn and Maxime cuit (BIC) in Sakhir yesterday Martin. They had a best lap of as the first-ever FIA WEC Bapco 1:55.696. 8 Hours of Bahrain got off to a Setting the pace in the LMGTE flying start. Am class were Team Project 1 The endurance racing spec- in their no. 56 Porsche 911 RSR, tacle is part of the BIC Nation- driven by , David al Day Festival, which is set to Hansson and . begin welcoming the public at Their best time was 1:56.510. “The Home of Motorsport in the Meanwhile, Team LNT stole Middle East” from today. the show early on after setting Gates are scheduled to be the pace in the first 90-minute open from 12noon to 10pm and practice. all are welcome to attend. Tick- Their no. 5 Ginetta featuring ets are available at the circuit Robertson, Hanley and King and they cost BD1 per person. clocked a best lap of 1:44.791. Rebellion Racing shone They were 2.185 seconds quick- brightest after the sun came er than the no. 1 of down and the floodlights came Senna, Menezes and Nato. on at BIC, setting the overall Gazoo’s Hybrids were pace in the World Endurance third and fourth. The no. 8 car Championship’s (WEC) second of Nakijima, Buemi and Brendon free practice of the day. Hartley was 2.665s off the pace; The trio of , Bru- while the no. 7 challenger of no Senna and Kobayashi, Conway and Lopez powered the team’s no. 1 Gib- was 2.817s back. son-powered Rebellion R13 car Team LNT’s no. 6 car of Dyson, to a fastest lap of one minute Smith and Simpson, completed The half-black, half-white Rebellion R13 in action during the second practice session last night 42.471 seconds – more than two the top five and the LMP1 field seconds quicker than the top 3.214s behind their sister team. from today at BIC’s vending Prince, Deputy Supreme Com- Today’s Racing Schedule time set by Team LNT in the first Leading the LMP2 class was area, located behind the Main mander and First Deputy Prime practice session held in daylight. the no. 22 Gibson-powered Grandstand, with the start of Minister. Time Series Session The Swiss outfit were this of celebrations in the BIC National time 1.411 seconds quicker than team, driven by , Day Festival. Open Paddock experience 10.30am MRF Challenge Qualifying Team LNT, who had Jordan Philip Hanson and Felipe Albu- The attractions will be availa- BIC is treating all ticket-hold- King, and Charles querque. They had a best lap of ble all through while the circuit ers to an Open Paddock experi- 11.15am FIA WEC Free Practice 3 Robertson behind the wheel of 1:48.273. is open is open from 12noon to ence for both days of the Bapco their no. 5 AER-powered Ginetta The LMGTE Pro runners were 10pm. 8 Hours of Bahrain today and 1.15pm Porsche Sprint Qualifying 2 G60-LT-P1. led by the 1:57.388 lap of Por- Kids’ entertainment will be tomorrow. Toyota Gazoo Racing were sche GT tandem a major part of what’s on offer. The Open Paddock experience 2.15pm MRF Challenge Race 1 in third and fourth for the sec- and in their no. Other attractions include cultur- is unique to the WEC, and it is a ond straight session. Mike Con- 91 Porsche 911 RSR-19 car. The al shows, a BDF fly-pass, a Na- 3.50pm Porsche Sprint Race 1 way, and Jose LMGTE Am class was topped by tional Guard parachute display, Maria Lopez finished ahead of TF Sport’s Salih Yoluc, Charles roaming performers, music from BETTER teammates Kazuki Nakijima, Eastwood and Jonathan Adam, the Ministry of Interior Police Sebastien Buemi and Brendon driving the no. 90 Aston Martin Band, and so much more. 4.40pm FIA WEC Qualifying LMGTE Pro/LMGTE Am Hartley in their pair of TS050 Vantage AMR. They had a best The weekend’s first of four KNOW Hybrids. lap of 1:58.803. nightly concerts also takes place 5.10pm FIA WEC Qualifying LMP1/LMP2 Conway and crew finished Action in the FIA WEC Bapco 8 today, featuring Emirati super- with a 1.750s gap from first place Hours of Bahrain continues to- star Balqees. Her show is sched- The weekend’s first of 6pm MRF Challenge Race 2 while Nakijima and teammates day at BIC. The next WEC session uled for an 8.30pm start. were 2.250s behind. Each of the is set to be a third Free Prac - The BIC National Day Festi- four nightly concerts fan-friendly initiative enjoyed a surprise if fans get a chance to top four were competing in the tice over 60 minutes, starting val is being held with the sup- also takes place today, by all. meet the WEC’s star drivers as WEC’s top-tier LMP1 class. at 11.15am. port of HRH Prince Salman featuring Emirati su- Aside from getting to watch all they stroll around the vicinity. Taking fifth overall and lead- bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown the high-octane action from the Furthermore, fans will get to Off-track entertainment perstar Balqees. Her ing all LMP2 teams were Jackie show is scheduled for an Main and Batelco Grandstands, walk by the Race Control Tow- Chan DC Racing with the no. There will be plenty for the 8.30pm start race goers will have the er, scrutineering garages, and 37 Gibson-powered Oreca 07 whole family to enjoy unique chance to see up the state-of-the-art Media and driven by Ho-Pin Tung, Gabri- close and personal what Medical Centres, all of which el Aubry and . goes on behind-the- are crucial to the success of the They were 3.676s from scenes in the WEC Paddock. race weekend. the top. This is where the participat- For further information on Team LNT’s no. 6 ing teams’ buildings are locat- the FIA WEC Bapco 8 Hours of Ginetta were sixth as ed to accommodate all team Bahrain and the BIC National the last LMP1 class members while at the circuit. Day Festival, visit BIC’s official runners. Chris Dy- The Paddock is also where the website www.bahraingp.com or son, Guy Smith and teams have the entrances to call the BIC Hotline on +973-17- Michael Simpson were 3.902s The Porsche 911 RSR of their garages, so it will not be 450000. LMGTE Am outfit Team Project 1 in action Bahrain back as venue for fourth round of WEC 2020/2021 season TDT | Manama Asia, following the exclusion of China These two venues are complement- on the new campaign. ed by popular and iconic tracks such FIA WEC 2020/2021 Provisional Calendar ahrain will host the fourth round The 2020-2021 championship fea- as Silverstone, Fuji, Sebring, Bahrain, Bof the 2020/2021 season in the tures two new venues in Monza, Italy Sebring and Spa-Francorchamps. Six 31 Aug/01 Sep 2020 Pre-Season Test, Silver- FIA World Endurance Championship and Kyalami, South Africa. They are a and eight-hour races will feature ahead stone (Great Britain) (WEC). part of the eight races in all, to be held of the season finale, the 24 Hours of Le 05 September 2020 6 Hours of Silverstone The provisional calendar was an- across the globe. Mans, in June 2021. (Great Britain) nounced last night by WEC CEO Gerard The Monza event will be a six-hour “When you have a list which includes 04 October 2020 6 Hours of Monza (Italy) Neveu in a Press conference held at race held on October 4. The WEC Pro- Silverstone, Monza, Fuji, Bahrain, Ky- 01 November 2020 (Japan) Bahrain International Circuit, where logue took place there in April 2017 alami, Sebring, Spa and, of course, Le 05 December 2020 8 Hours of Bahrain the inaugural FIA WEC Bapco 8 Hours but the venue has never before hosted Mans, you are at the heart of endurance (Bahrain) of Bahrain is currently taking place. an FIA WEC race despite being a strong racing’s history and heritage, its present 06 February 2021 6 Hours of Kyalami (South Bahrain will once again be the fourth favourite with teams and fans alike. and its future,” said Neveu. Africa) of eight rounds next year. The endur- Completely new to the calendar is the The FIA WEC 2020-2021 calendar 19 March 2021 (8 hours) ance racing spectacle is scheduled to historic but extensively redeveloped will be presented to the FIA Endurance (USA) take place on December 5 and it will and upgraded Kyalami circuit in South Commission, presided over by Richard 24 April 2021 TOTAL 6 Hours of Spa-Francor- once again be an eight-hour event. Africa. Situated between Johannesburg Mille, and will be submitted to the FIA champs (Belgium) It remains as the only WEC round in WEC CEO Neveu speaks during his Press and Pretoria, Kyalami will also host a World Motor Sport Council for approv- 12-13 June 2021 (France) the Middle East and one of only two in conference at BIC yesterday six-hour challenge. al in Geneva on 6th March 2020.