Five things you should know ahead of the Goodyear Wingfoot Award showdown in Bahrain

This weekend, the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season is set to conclude with a battle under the lights at the 8 Hours of Bahrain. While Manthey PureRxcing celebrated LMGT3 title glory in Fuji in September, the Goodyear Wingfoot Award remains to be decided, promising an intense showdown to close out the season.

Many of the drivers still in contention for the Goodyear Wingfoot Award reflect on their successful seasons and look ahead to the 8 Hours of Bahrain, as they prepare to face the final test in their pursuit for Wingfoot Award glory. Here are the five things you should know ahead of the last round in Bahrain:

Goodyear single-specification tire on offer
Goodyear will bring a single-specification medium compound slick tire to Bahrain, the same tire used in every other race in the WEC and ELMS this season, designed to perform across a wide range of circuits and conditions. This includes Bahrain’s intense heat and humidity, where managing degradation will be crucial over the 5.4-kilometer track, renowned for its long straights, tight corners, elevation changes and ample overtaking opportunities. A single-specification wet tire will also be available, though it’s unlikely to see use in Bahrain’s typically dry climate.

Bahrain’s race conditions are unique
As the race starts in the heat of the day and runs into dusk, track temperatures will drop significantly, adding an additional layer of complexity for teams as they adapt to changing grip levels throughout the race.

Mike McGregor, Goodyear Head of Sales Endurance Racing EMEA, highlights the unique demands of the Bahrain circuit: « With its long straights and heavy braking zones, Bahrain puts extra strain on a tire’s longitudinal forces—quite different from the lateral stresses we see at classic circuits like Spa. Drivers spend around 48% of each lap at full throttle, and when combined with its highly abrasive surface and high track temperatures, understanding how the tire responds to varying loads becomes critical. This is especially true as the race moves from the intense heat of the day into the cooler evening conditions. »

Goodyear’s tire versatility will be tested further as teams adapt to the drop in track temperatures after dusk, which could impact grip levels. McGregor adds: « Our LMGT3 tire has already proven its reliability in extreme conditions, from the intense heat of Texas to the cooler nights at Le Mans. Our aim is to provide teams with a tire that delivers consistent performance in Bahrain’s demanding heat and changing conditions. »

Alex Riberas ‘positively surprised’ at the performance of the Goodyear compound
The characteristics of LMGT3 mean it’s the most representative category when comparing the technologies that transfer into Goodyear’s range of high-performance tires for the road. Driver feedback is crucial for Goodyear Racing’s team of designers and engineers to develop Eagle F1 SuperSport tires that excel both on track, and on road.

Alex Riberas, driving for #27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin, praises the Goodyear tire’s performance, highlighting that « they’ve been an incredible success this year. »

He continues: « We’ve had no problems whatsoever; the tires have performed in all conditions and have exceeded our expectations. »

Riberas also commented on the multiple stint performance, stating: « the tire degradation has been consistently lower than anticipated, which has been a positive surprise. The new Goodyear compound is highly durable; if you manage it well, it truly rewards you in the latter part of the stint. »

Farfus leads the Goodyear Wingfoot Award standings ahead of the final race
On track, drivers Augusto Farfus and Davide Rigon have enjoyed plenty of success this season, not least in the Goodyear Wingfoot Award, where they sit first and second respectively, separated by only eight points.

The Wingfoot Award recognises the relentless performance and consistency of the best endurance racing drivers. Each race, it is calculated over a single stint and the LMGT3 driver with the fastest time wins the award. The season-long points standings crown the overall Wingfoot Award champion at the end of the campaign.

« I’m very pleased to be at the top of the standings, » says Farfus, #31 BMW M Team WRT driver, currently leading the Wingfoot Award with 76 points. « The Goodyear Wingfoot Award is something special. It highlights a different side of motorsport, as people often take the role of the tire for granted—how to use, manage, and execute the race.
« Leading the standings definitely puts a smile on my face, especially as a Goodyear ambassador. I’m really proud to be part of this and to fight for it. I can head into the final round and bring this trophy home. Consistency, teamwork, tire management, and usage are crucial for this. It’s not just about raw speed, but making the tires last and work within the right window. »

Davide Rigon, driving for #54 AF Corse Ferrari, currently in second place in the Wingfoot Award Standings with 68 points, is also ready for the challenge: « In Bahrain, strategy will be crucial as the race will be over 8 hours, but I feel ready. I have good memories on this circuit since my GP2 days, where I got a podium, but also recently in the GTE-Pro class, with a win in 2017. My teammates Thomas Flohr and Francesco Castellacci also really like this track; we had a good race there last year. »

Five teams representing four manufacturers will battle it out for vice-champion honours
Manthey PureRxcing’s Klaus Bachler, Alex Malykhin, and Joel Sturm secured the LMGT3 title in September at Fuji. A win and pole position in Bahrain could boost their points total to 175, surpassing last season’s LMGTE and LMP2 champions, who each finished with 173 points.

Trailing the 2024 champions, five teams representing four manufacturers—Porsche, BMW, Aston Martin and Ferrari—will battle it out in Bahrain for the vice-champion honours. Currently holding second place in the overall standings is the Manthey EMA team of Richard Lietz, Morris Schuring, and Yasser Shahin but, behind them, only 26 points separate the next four teams in the standings.

On-track action in Bahrain is set to kick off with two free practice sessions on Thursday 31 October, with qualifying taking place on Friday 1 November. The flag for the 8 Hours of Bahrain will be waved at 14:00 local time on Saturday 2 November.

Marco Le Prato,

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