FIA WEC: Toyota wins in Shanghai, Porsche takes the championship
The crew in the #8 Toyota TS050 Hybrid scored a victory in the 6 Hours of Shanghai, the penultimate round of the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship, but trio in the #2 Porsche 919 Hybrid secure a championship title for this year ahead of season’s finale in Bahrain.
The race winners, fourth time this year, are Sebastien Buemi, Anthony Davidson and Kazuki Nakajima. The new champions are Brendon Hartley, Earl Bamber and Timo Bernhard, who finished in the second place at Shanghai International Circuit. For Hartley and Bernhard, it’s the second FIA WEC title after they triumphed previously in 2015. Earl Bamber is on the top of the world for the first time.
Porsche also secures Manufacturers’ title for 2017, as well Ferrari takes title in GT class.
Ferrari secures GT Manufacturers’ title
In the GTE Pro class, the #67 Ford GT takes victory with Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell driving. They beat the #91 Porsche 911 RSR of Frederic Makowiecki and Richard Lietz. Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado finished third today in the #51 Ferrari 488 GTE. Ferrari’s third and sixth place finishes in the class were enough to seal the FIA WEC GT Manufacturers’ Championship. The GT Drivers’ championship will be decided in the 6 Hours of Bahrain on November 18.
In the LMP2 class, the victory goes to the #31 Vaillante Rebellion Oreca of Bruno Senna, Julien Canal and Nico Prost. That victory promotes them into championship leaders, one point ahead of closest rivals, the #38 Jackie Chan DC Racing crew, which finished fourth today. Other two crews on a podium in Shanghai were the #36 Signatech Alpine Matmut and the #13 Vaillante Rebellion.
In the LMGTE Am class, the #98 Aston Martin Racing Vantage V8 of Paul Dalla Lana, Mathias Lauda and Pedro Lamy took a third win of the season and a 10-point lead in the championship. Two Porsche 911 RSRs, of Gulf Racing UK and Dempsey Proton Racing, finished second and third.
