8Star Seeks GTE-Am Title in Bahrain

Photo: John Dagys

An American team could be celebrating a World Championship for the second consecutive year, as 8Star Motorsports heads into this weekend’s FIA WEC Six Hours of Bahrain within a shout of the GTE-Am title.

The AF Corse-run squad made up considerable ground last time out in Shanghai,  when Enzo Potolicchio, Rui Aguas and Davide Rigon scored the team’s second class victory of the season, closing to within five points of the championship-leading No. 96 Aston Martin Racing entry.

A class win on Saturday would hand the teams’ title to 8Star, as well as the drivers’ championship for Potolicchio and Aguas if the Jamie Campbell-Walter, Stuart Hall and Roald Goethe-driven No. 96 Aston finishes third or lower.

“The win in China put us back in contention for the championship and we just have to continue doing our jobs this weekend,” Potolicchio said.

“Our pit stops were amazing in Shanghai.We gained a lot of time. I think the whole team is pushing hard to have another perfect race and come home with the win.

“We’re all at our best levels heading into Bahrain. It’s a good time to be at your best to finish the season strong.”

If Potolicchio takes home the championship, the Venezuelan could become the only driver to have earned consecutive WEC titles. He led the U.S.-based Starworks Motorsports squad to the LMP2 championship in 2012, which included wins at Sebring and Le Mans.

In addition to the AMR and 8Star entries, the Le Mans class-winning No. 76 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche pairing of Raymond Narac and Jean-Karl Vernay are also in title contention, sitting five points behind Campbell-Walter and Hall entering the season finale.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John