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2014 FIA WEC: Six Hours of Sao Paulo preview

If there is a better place to end the season than Brazil, the FIA World Endurance Championship has yet to find it. The 2014 FIA WEC season comes to a close this weekend at the home of carnival, with Porsche still in with a chance of taking the GT manufacturers’ title.

Last time out in Bahrain, the #51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 duo of Toni Vilander and Gianmaria Bruni wrapped up both the GTE Pro drivers’ and team’s championships with their fourth win of the 2014 FIA WEC season.

Victory for the Italian-Finnish pairing ended Porsche Team Manthey driver, Frédéric Makowiecki’s slim hopes of lifting the driver’s crown after he could only manage fifth alongside countryman, Patrick Pilet in the no. 92 Porsche 911 RSR.

The no. 92 Porsche 911 RSR saw success two races ago in Bahrain. More will be needed in Brazil.
The no. 92 Porsche 911 RSR saw success two races ago in Bahrain. More will be needed in Brazil.

In the manufacturers’ standings, Porsche sits 25 points behind Ferrari, with 43 points on offer for the six hours of racing at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, home of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Porsche will undoubtedly need to score their third one-twon of the season if they are to take their second manufacturer’s crown of 2014 (after securing the inaugural Tudor USCC title last month).

The Weissach squad’s Porsche 991 RSRs have locked out the top of the podium twice this year, at Silverstone during the season opener and two rounds ago in China, where Makowiecki was vaulted into his ultimately fruitless championship charge.

Patrick Pilet finished on the podium in Sao Paulo in 2013 with Jörg Bergmeister. This season he will partner Frédéric Makowiecki.
Patrick Pilet finished on the podium in Sao Paulo in 2013 with Jörg Bergmeister. This season he will partner Frédéric Makowiecki.

Porsche Team Manthey will have their work cut out though, with the Ferrari traditionally suited to the sweeping Interlagos circuit. Bruni took victory last year (when the Six Hours of Sau Paolo was round four of the eight-race championship).

However, Pilet was also able to get onto the podium in 2013 when paired with Jörg Bergmeister. The German will again be paired with Richard Lietz in the no. 91 Porsche 991 RSR, giving both Weissach entries some Brazilian podium experience for Porsche’s most important race of the year.

Two free practice sessions take place today, with a third session tomorrow before Saturday’s qualifying session. The six hour race gets underway at 3pm GMT, ensuring the 2014 FIA WEC manufacturer’s champion will be confirmed by Sunday evening.

Keep up to date with all the Porsche 911 race and rally news with our dedicated motorsport coverage.

Another frenetic season of FIA WEC action comes to a close this weekend, with Aston Martin able to influence the direction of the 2014 manufacturers' title.
Another frenetic season of FIA WEC action comes to a close this weekend, with Aston Martin able to influence the direction of the 2014 manufacturers’ title.

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