GTE World Title Decision to Go to International Court of Appeal

Photo: Porsche

The final decision on the results of the 8 Hours of Bahrain, and subsequently the GTE World Endurance championships, will likely go to the FIA’s International Court of Appeal following a further motion made by Porsche.

The German manufacturer has appealed the rejection of its protest from the stewards of the 8 Hours of Bahrain over the controversial late-race incident in Saturday’s FIA World Endurance Championship season finale.

Sportscar365 understands that the German manufacturer has lodged an appeal after its initial protest was thrown out by WEC stewards early Sunday morning in the aftermath of a dramatic late-race incident between the then-leading No. 92 Porsche 911 RSR-19 of Michael Christensen and Alessandro Pier Guidi’s No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE Evo.

Porsche now has 96 hours to fully confirm the appeal with the FIA.

At the root of the question is race control’s decision to first penalize the Ferrari but not fully act upon it.

A message on the timing screens indicated for Pier Guidi to give back the position to the No. 92 Porsche after contact between the two cars in the closing minutes, which disappeared when Christensen pitted for a routine fuel-only final stop.

An explanation from the FIA or ACO on the sequence of events has not been made.

Timing and scoring records appear to prove an attempt from Pier Guidi to slow down enough for Christensen to re-take the lead.

The Ferrari driver completed a 2:09.518 lap time – approximately 10 seconds off the GTE-Pro pace – on the same lap that Christensen made his Porsche’s final fuel-only stop.

Pier Guidi, who was 11 seconds ahead after the collision, then made his last stop after the next tour.

The WEC has published the final results of Saturday’s race, which it states is subject to the appeal.

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