499Ps in Bahrain for epilogue to FIA WEC 2024

Maranello, 25 October 2024 - The Bahrain International Circuit will host the final round of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, with the eight-hour race – traditionally marking the end of the season – on Saturday, 2 November. The official Ferrari – AF Corse team’s 499P cars, numbers 50 and 51, will compete in the Persian Gulf state, along with the private AF Corse team’s number 83.

A fixture on the calendar, the 5.412-kilometre, 15-turn Sakhir circuit has been part of the FIA WEC championship since its inception in 2012. After two engagements in September at Austin (USA) and Fuji (Japan), the Maranello-based manufacturer’s red-liveried Hypercars return to the spotlight with the challenging goal of competing for both the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ world championship titles.

The situation. The 8 Hours of Bahrain winner will earn 38 points, with an additional point awarded to the Hyperpole crew. Ferrari currently sits third in the Manufacturers’ standings with 134 points, 27 behind the leaders. In the Drivers’ standings, Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen are in second place in the number 50 499P, on 115 points, 35 points off the top. Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi, teammates in the number 51 car, sit eighth with 59 points.

Ferrari official drivers Yifei Ye and Robert Shwartzman, who share the Giallo Modena-liveried number 83 499P with Robert Kubica, are ninth in the Drivers’ standings with 51 points. However, AF Corse is currently second with 122 points in the FIA World Cup for Hypercar Teams. In Bahrain, the Italian team will aim to consolidate that position.

Rookie Test. On Sunday, 3 November, the day after the race, the Bahrain International Circuit will host the Rookie Test, during which drivers will have the opportunity to try out both Hypercars and production-derived cars on the track for the first time.

Prancing Horse official driver Thomas Neubauer, who competed in the entire GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup season and in one race of the IMSA Sportscar Championship this year, and Arthur Leclerc, currently participating in the Italian GT Endurance Championship in the 296 GT3, will be behind the wheel of the Ferrari 499P.

Sixteen-year-old Italian Matteo De Palo and Indian Mahaveer Raghunathan will compete in the 296 LMGT3. 

The programme. On Thursday, 31 October, two free practice sessions, each lasting 90 minutes, are scheduled for 12.15 and 5.30 p.m. On Friday, 1 November, Free Practice 3 (12 to 1 p.m.) will precede Qualifying (starting at 4.40 p.m.) and Hyperpole (from 5 p.m.). The 8 Hours of Bahrain kicks off on Saturday, 2 November, at 2 p.m. (local time).