Endurance Weekly: 30th October - 6th November

This week on Endurance Weekly, the DIVEBOMB Endurance Team looks forwards to the upcoming World Endurance Championship (WEC) finale, the 8 Hours of Bahrain, while also recapping all of the news you may have missed in the last week.

WEC Preview - 8 Hours of Bahrain

Credit: WEC

The 8 Hours of Bahrain is set to be a thrilling title decider. The final round of the 2025 WEC (World Endurance Championship) season will take place this weekend, starting at 11AM GMT on Saturday.

The local start time is 14:00, meaning the sun will set on the Bahrain International Circuit at around hour three of the race. As the sky darkens, the track and air will become colder, changing the characteristics and performances of each competitors car.

Qualifying will take place at 13:00 GMT on Friday.

1.5x points will be awarded this weekend, meaning the gaps at the top of the table are smaller than they appear. If the No.51 wins or comes second in the race, they will be champions regardless of where their rivals finish.

However, if the No.83 wins, with the No.51 third or lower, the Le Mans winning crew take home the title. Porsche at the very least need a podium finish, along with the No.51 and No.83 being out of or in the lower regions of the points. Cadillac on the other hand, need to win the race, and hope for some misfortune for the other three contenders.

The same three manufacturers are also competing for the Manufacturers Title, Ferrari are also the favourites to win.

Ferrari and Porsche are also competing for the LMGT3 honours, with the No.92 Porsche currently leading the chase and No.21 Ferrari in second. In third place - but still with a title chance - is the No.81 Corvette.

News

WEC

Impressive talent on Bahrain Rookie Test entry list

The WEC Rookie Test will take place on Sunday 9th November at the Bahrain International Circuit, and there is a plethora of talent set to take place.

Although big names such as Dorian Boccolacci, Nick Cassidy and António Félix da Costa will take place in their respective teams, there is one name missing from the entry list.

Daytona 24h LMP2 winner Connor Zilisch was set to make his Hypercar debut with Cadillac and JOTA, however after missing out (arguably unfairly) on the NASCAR Xfinity Championship, he does not have the correct licence points to take part in the test.

Fortunately for Zilisch IMSA does not have the same licence system, so he will take part in a test at Daytona next week.

The entry list is subject to change, as teams can change their lineups right up to the start of the test.

Jenson and Peugeot part ways while Vergne steps down to development duties, Vandoorne jumps back in

Credit: Peugeot Sport

After more than a quarter of a century of races in the Peugeot 9X8, Mikkel Jenson will be parting ways from Peugeot Sport. Jensen will be racing the No.93 this weekend in Bahrain for the final time with Paul Di Resta and Jean-Eric Vergne.

Jensen isn't the only Peugeot driver mixed up in silly season. Jean-Eric Vergne will take on a development role in 2026, rather than competing competitively. Surprisingly the French driver will be replaced by Stoffel Vandoorne - who announced his exit from Peugeot during the previous race weekend.

TF Sport and Corvette

Credit: TF Sport

TF Sport have announced a two year extension on their partnership with Corvette, which sees the team use the Z06 GT3.R in the ELMS (European Le Mans Series) and the WEC.

TF Sport have been front runners in the LMGT3 class this season, picking up two wins and remain in contention for the Driver's Championship with the No.81 car. The sister No.33 car is no longer in contention, however it can still break into the top three.