Race report WEC Bahrain 2025
The Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain delivered a dramatic and fitting conclusion to
the FIA World Endurance Championship season.
With Ferrari, Porsche and Cadillac all still in contention for the world titles, the finale at the Bahrain International Circuit once again proved to be a decisive battleground.
Hypercar – Ferrari Secures Both Titles, Toyota Dominates the Race
Ferrari arrived in Bahrain as the clear favourite for championship glory and ultimately claimed both the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ Hypercar titles. The crew of the No. 51 Ferrari – Antonio Giovinazzi, James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi – finished fourth, enough to seal the championship despite intense pressure from the chasing AF Corse No. 83 and the factory No. 50 Ferrari.
On track, however, it was Toyota that stole the spotlight. After a difficult season without a single podium, the Japanese manufacturer delivered a stunning turnaround. The No. 7 Toyota of Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Nyck de Vries controlled the race from the front and took a dominant victory, followed closely by the No. 8 sister car. Their one-two finish lifted Toyota to second place in the final Manufacturers’ standings and extended the brand’s strong record in Sakhir.
Porsche arrived with momentum from recent successes but fell short of challenging Ferrari for the title. Cadillac concluded the season with a solid run to sixth place for the No. 12 JOTA-entered V-Series.R.
LMGT3 – Manthey 1st Phorm Crowned Champions Again
The LMGT3 championship fight proved just as competitive, with Porsche, Ferrari and Corvette all in the mix heading into the finale. Ultimately, consistency paid off for Manthey 1st Phorm. Their No. 92 Porsche, driven by Richard Lietz, Ryan Hardwick and Riccardo Pera, finished fourth in Bahrain – just enough to clinch both the Teams’ and Drivers’ titles for the second year in a row. The No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari followed closely behind in fifth, securing the runner-up position in the standings.
Victory on the night went to the No. 87 Akkodis ASP Lexus, which held off a fierce late charge from the Iron Lynx Mercedes. Earlier momentum for Corvette’s No. 81 – following key results such as the Fuji win – was not enough to mount a final challenge for the championship.
Notable Moments
Jenson Button completed his final professional race but saw it compromised by a penalty following contact with the No. 54 Ferrari. Multiple safety car periods reshuffled strategies throughout the evening and kept the field tight. The race also marked another chapter in Toyota’s exceptional record at Bahrain, underscoring their strength on the desert circuit even in a challenging year.
In summary, Ferrari concluded a strong season by securing both Hypercar titles, Manthey reaffirmed its supremacy in LMGT3, and Toyota produced a spectacular race performance to lock out the top two positions in Bahrain.
