Brazil, 27November 2014-This weekend in Brazil the finale of the 2014 FIA WEC season will take place at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in São Paulo. There are four titles still to be decided, including the top prize of the FIA World Endurance Manufacturers’ Championship.
Anthony Davidson and Sebastien Buemi secured the FIA World Endurance Drivers’ Championship title in Brazil but they still have some work to do to ensure that Toyota secure the Manufacturers’ title. The Japanese manufacturer currently holds a commanding 40 point lead over 2013 World Champions Audi, but with 44 points still available there is still a mathematical possibility the German manufacturer could retain their crown. However Audi need to finish 1st and 2nd in Brazil and for both Toyota TS040s to not score any points for this to happen. However this is Endurance Racing and there is still six hours of track action before the final chequered flag of the season is waved!
With Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander already confirmed as GT Driver Champions, the FIA World Endurance Cup for GT Manufacturers is still to be decided with Ferrari currently hold a 25 point lead over Porsche, with a maximum 44 points on offer in Brazil. This means Ferrari need to score 19 points from the top two 458s – these can be LMGTE Pro or Am competitors – to take the title on Sunday evening.
It is in LMP2 that the closest battle still exists, with the no26 G-Drive Racing Ligier-Nissan of Roman Rusinov, Julien Canal and Olivier Pla taking the championship lead in Bahrain ahead of the no27 SMP Racing Oreca Nissan of Sergey Zlobin, the only driver in the Russian team still capable of taking the drivers’ title. The gap between the two protagonists is just 8 points but with four wins and six pole positions from the first seven races, the no26 G-Drive Racing crew are the favourites to take the title. However this is Endurance Racing and with the race winning KCMG Oreca Nissan of Richard Bradley, Matt Howson and Alexandre Imperatori looking for their third victory in 2014 and always the question mark of reliability over shadowing the competitors, the LMP2 titles could go down to the final laps of a very exciting 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship season.
All of the other titles have already been decided and the following teams and drivers are confirmed as 2014 Champions.
- FIA World Endurance Driver Champions Anthony Davidson, Sebastien Buemi
- FIA World Cup for GT Drivers – Gianmaria Bruni, Toni Vilander
- FIA Endurance Trophy for Private LMP1 Drivers – Mathias Beche, Nick Heidfeld, Nicolas Prost
- FIA Endurance Trophy for Private LMP1 Teams – No12 Rebellion Racing R-One
- FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGTE Pro Teams – no51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia
- FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGTE Am Drivers – Kristian Poulson, David Heinemeier-Hansson
- FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGTE Am Teams – No95 Aston Martin Racing Vantage V8
The 6 Hours of São Paulo will take place on Sunday 30 November at 13:00 (local) and at the end of the 6-hour race all of the 2014 champions will be known.
Also one last Hurrah for Tom Kristensen who retires as a professional racing driver at Sao Paulo
One of the really big names in sports is retiring: Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen will contest his last race as a professional race driver in São Paulo (Brazil) at the end of November. The 47-year-old Dane will be retained by the brand with the four rings as a representative and partner of Audi Sport.
“Naturally, the retirement of a remarkable personality like Tom Kristensen is a great loss for Audi Sport Team Joest and the entire endurance racing scene,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “We can understand his decision to quit at the pinnacle of his career. He’s the last member of the generation that Audi began with in prototype racing. Tom has been competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) as the reigning World Champion this year and shown that he’s still one of the world’s fastest and best sports car drivers. We’ll miss him as a driver but he’s going to continue to support us with his wealth of experience and his personality. We’re happy that Tom Kristensen has been and will continue to be an ‘Audian’ with his heart and soul.”
“I’ve had the privilege of driving for the best team and the world’s coolest automobile manufacturer for 15 years,” emphasizes Tom Kristensen. “I’ve had great team-mates and worked together with fantastic people. With Audi, I’ve been able to win many titles and numerous races as well as experiencing some unforgettable, emotional moments. My string of victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours would not have been possible without Audi. Leaving this team as a driver is hard for me. But the day had to come at one time or another. I can only thank Audi and the entire staff for the great time I’ve had and look forward to my new tasks for the brand and the team of Audi Sport.”
2013 FIA World Endurance Driver’s Champion and nine times winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans Tom Kristensen today announced his retirement from professional racing after the final round of the FIA WEC in São Paulo on the 30 November.
The 47-year-old Dane is one endurance racing’s greatest ambassadors and his racing career is the envy of many in motorsport.
His many accolade’s include receiving a knighthood, the Order of the Dannebrog, from Denmark’s Queen Margarethe II this summer for his contribution and achievements in sport.
“We heard the news today that Tom Kristensen will retire from professional motorsport after the 6 Hours of São Paulo, and as it is his personal decision, we have to respect this announcement.” said FIAWEC CEO Gerard Neveu.
“Tom represents the very best about our sport. Always the consummate professional both behind the wheel and in the paddock, but he equally makes time for the fans and the media. To win the 24 Hours of Le Mans is an achievement in any driver’s career, but to win the greatest race in the world nine times is legendary. Last year he became world champion with Loic Duval and Allan McNish and it is very fitting that the Audi will display the no1 for Tom’s last race in Brazil. Everyone at the FIA World Endurance Championship would like to wish Tom the very best of luck for the future. We sincerely want to have him with us at the centre of the Endurance family for many years to come because Tom is the absolute reference point in our world. More than a Champion, he is a fantastic person; we just love him and need him to be part of the endurance racing world in the future.”
