Albuquerque, Kubica tied on Goodyear Wingfoot Award points going into WEC Bahrain finale

In addition to the LMP2 drivers’ and constructors’ championships being decided in Bahrain this weekend, the Goodyear Wingfoot Award is also up for grabs.

The FIA World Endurance Championship is set for a battle under the lights in Bahrain, with the Goodyear Wingfoot Award, drivers’ and constructors’ championships still to be decided.

Filipe Albuquerque and Robert Kubica travel to Bahrain equal at the top of the Goodyear Wingfoot Award table. Albert Costa is 16 points adrift in third, the only other driver with a mathematical chance of clinching the Wingfoot Award title. 

Introduced this year and awarded after every FIA World Endurance Championship race, the Goodyear Wingfoot Award celebrates the art of maximising performance and executing consistent pace across multiple stints. After each round, the award is given to the LMP2 driver who achieves the fastest stint average, measuring their average lap time over two consecutive stints.

Every LMP2 driver competes for the Goodyear Wingfoot Award, which uses the same points system as WEC to determine the winner over the course of the season.

Ben Crawley, Director of Motorsport EMEA, Goodyear, commented: “We introduced the Wingfoot Award to recognise excellent performance across multiple endurance stints. We’re excited to see two top drivers battle it out for the overall 2023 Wingfoot Award title in Bahrain. It has added another intriguing element for the racing and provided fans with a different perspective when it comes to managing performance.”

The beginning of an exciting new chapter

This weekend will mark the end for LMP2 in WEC, with Goodyear moving on to supply the exciting new LMGT3 WEC category from next year onwards. It will remain the sole supplier for LMP2 in the European Le Mans Series. 

LMGT3 preparation has already begun, with several of the manufacturers expected to take part in WEC and ELMS undertaking on-track testing ahead of the 2024 season.

Crawley adds: “As we end another season, I’d like to thank our fantastic team that travels to each race and ensures the Goodyear operation runs smoothly. We have enjoyed being the exclusive supplier for the LMP2 category for the last three seasons, and are excited to continue that relationship in ELMS. Now, we look ahead to an exciting future for WEC with LMGT3 and cannot wait to be back on the grid in 2024.” 

The origins of the Wingfoot

The idea of speed inspired Goodyear’s selection of the Wingfoot symbol soon after the formation of the company 125 years ago. Goodyear’s Wingfoot symbol is derived from the famous god of mythology known to the ancient Romans as Mercury, and to the Greeks as Hermes. Mercury was known as a swift messenger for all the gods of mythology, making it a perfect fit for Goodyear’s ethos of performance.