Cadillac Racing power to top of the times in third WEC practice at Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain

Cadillac Racing power to top of the times in third WEC practice at Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain

• Cadillac’s #2 crew of Earl Bamber, Alexnader Lynn and Richard Westbrook lead the way in 60-minute third WEC practice
• United Autosports’ #9 car spearheads LMP2 class, Project 1-AO’s $56 crew set pace in LMGTE Am category
• De Haan, Oeverhaus claim pole positions for season-opening Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East races
• WEC autograph session and loads of family entertainment to highlight off-track attractions on Saturday at BIC

Cadillac Racing shot up to the top of the times today in the third and final practice of the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain weekend—the final round of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Cadillac’s #2 crew of Earl Bamber, Alexander Lynn and Richard Westbrook set the fastest time in the 60-minute session driving their Cadillac V-Series.R Hybrid along Bahrain International Circuit’s (BIC) 5.412-kilometre track.

The stage is now set for the WEC’s last qualifying of its 2023 campaign, to be held later today.
Racing continues Saturday (Editor’s note: 4 November) at “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East” and all are invited to attend and enjoy the very best of motorsport action and family entertainment.

Gates are scheduled to be open to fans from 10.30am to 10.30pm.

Tickets cost just BD5.500 for adults and BD2.750 for kids. They can be bought online at BIC’s official website bahraingp.com, by calling the BIC Hotline on +973-17450000, or at the gate. Tickets are priced as one of the most affordable ways to witness a world championship motorsport event.

Hospitality packages are also available for the BIC Spirit of Le Mans Club Experience, where guests can experience exclusive cuisine and incredible views in BIC’s Paddock hospitality. Packages are also available to purchase online or via the BIC Hotline.

As part of Saturday’s programme, BIC is holding an autograph session for race-goers to meet their WEC heroes just a couple of hours before they suit up for the eight-hour endurance spectacle. This fan-engagement activity has become very popular amongst enthusiasts, with the event featuring many of the world’s superstar race car drivers. Those attending will be able to take photos with their favourite WEC protagonists and get memorabilia signed.

The autograph session is scheduled to take place from 11.50am to 12.20pm along BIC’s main pit lane. Those who are looking to make the most of this opportunity to interact with the sport’s icons are advised to get to the circuit early to avoid missing out.

In today’s third WEC practice, Bamber-Lynn-Westbrook posted a best lap of one minute 49.512 seconds in a warm and dry outing.

Classified behind Cadillac in second place were Ferrari AF Corse’s #50 trio of Miguel Molina, Antonio Fuoco and Nicklas Nielsen. They shared the duties behind the wheel of their Ferrari 499P Hybrid and were 0.498s off the pace.

In third were Proton Competition’s #99 crew of Neel Jani, Gianmaria Bruni and Harry Tincknell driving a Porsche 963 Hybrid and posting a top lap 0.744s behind Cadillac.

Ferrari AF Corse made it two cars in the top four, Peugeot TotalEnergies’ #94 Peugeot 9X8 came fifth, and the pair of Porsche 963s of Porsche Penske Motorsport came sixth and seventh.

Toyota Gazoo Racing’s crews were eighth and ninth overall, while completing the overall top 10, all composed of Hypercar competitors, was Hertz Team JOTA, also driving a Porsche 963 Hybrid.

Leaders in the LMP2 class were United Autosports’ #9 crew of Joshua Pierson, Tom Blomqvist and Oliver Jarvis. They were followed by Prema Racing’s #9 crew and JOTA’s #28 car.

Amongst the LMGTE Am runners, Project 1-AO’s #56 trio of PJ Hyett, Gunnar Jeannette and Matteo Cairoli were the leaders. They had a fastest lap time of 1:58.214 in their Porsche 911 RSR-19. Richard Mille AF Corse’s #83 challenger followed and AF Corse’s #54 was third, both in Ferrari 488 GTE Evos.