FIA WEC, 6 Hours Of Bahrain - Race Preview

Part Three - GTE Pro

51 AF CORSE M Ferrari F458 Italia Giancarlo Fisichella/ Toni Vilander
71 AF CORSE M Ferrari F458 Italia Andrea Bertolini/ Olivier Beretta
77 TEAM FELBERMAYR-PROTON M Porsche 911 RSR (997) Richard Lietz/ Marc Lieb
97 ASTON MARTIN RACING M Aston Martin Vantage V8 Stefan Mücke/ Darren Turner

The promised fuel adjustment arrived with a whimper rather than a bang - 5 litres less for the Ferrari but 15kg lighter shouldn't rock the boat too violently.
 
Ferrari and AF Corse stand at the threshold of their respective titles so is it time for consistency rather than ultimate pace? Don't bet on it!
 
Gimmi Bruni has a commitment to the International GT Open at Monza and with no GT Drivers Championship to think about it's a relatively simple matter to install Toni Vilander alongside Giancarlo Fisichella for this one. 
 
There's no change for the other three Pro cars but both Aston Martin and Porsche will. E looking to exert pressure throughout in Bahrain, the Vantage boys in particular are looking for a win and that can only really come if the Ferraris stumble or if we see substantial Safety Car activity.
 
Whilst the Aston boys are revelling in their 2012 pace and reliability the Felbermayr Proton team are in a different mindset - their 997 not fast enough, not wieldly enough and not fuel efficient enough to get it done - They're placing much more hope in a new car to come - finally consigning the current (2006 vintage) basic chassis to the museum - But when will that car come, our feeling is sooner rather than later, but not soon enough for 2012 competition.