Mike Conway heads to Bahrain this weekend in the fourth round of the 2019/20 World Endurance Championship (WEC) as the curtain falls on another successful year for the British driver.
Mike and the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing team head to the 8 Hours of Bahrain looking to build on their lead as they remain in pole position to retain both drivers’ and teams’ titles with five races remaining in the 2019/20 season.
Mike’s #7 TS050 car, with teammates Kamui Kobayashi and José María López, sit just three points behind their sister #8 car in the Drivers’ Championship after maximum success handicap last time out in Shanghai saw both cars finish behind Rebellion Racing, narrowing their lead at the top of the LMP1 standings.
The team will be looking to emulate their early success in the season when a win at Mike’s home race at Silverstone was backed up with a second place finish at the Fuji Speedway.
Compared to the last visit to Bahrain in 2017, WEC’s handicap system means that this weekend the TS050 HYBRIDs are permitted less hybrid power and less fuel per lap, whilst also weighing more; resulting in a success handicap of 2.51secs per lap for the #7 car.
Mike has fond memories of racing at the 5.412km, 15-turn Bahrain International Circuit, and will be looking forward to a different challenge as the teams battle it out in only the second 8 hour race in WEC history.
“I really like the Bahrain circuit; it has a nice flow to it and I have some great memories there. I won my first WEC race in Bahrain in 2014 and I’ve often been on the podium there. It’s an eight-hour race and I enjoy the longer ones because more can happen; there’s more action, more driving and more fun. I think a longer race will be good for us.”
Mike’s weekend gets underway on Thursday with free practice starting at 12:00 (GMT), with qualifying the following day at 14:00 before Saturday's 11:00 race.
