Shaytar, Basov eye LMGTE title

Victor Shaytar and Aleksey Basov are aiming to become the LMGTE Am champions at Bahrain this weekend after a successful 2015 campaign.

Partnering with acknowledged GT master Andrea Bertolini, in the SMP Racing Ferrari 458 Italia, the Russian pair is aiming to clinch the title on Sunday evening.

“After the last two races, where we had troubles, I am not thinking of the title at all, honestly I am not,” said Shaytar as he prepared for track action.

“We have had some great races this year and yes it would be nice to have another one here in Bahrain. We have the gap to the other Ferrari in the points, which is good for us, but a lot can happen in six hours, so we have to prepare very well in the next days for Saturday.”

Shaytar, who took his first ever fastest lap in class at Shanghai earlier this month, has tasted victory at Le Mans, Nurburgring and COTA. These successes allied to second places at Silverstone, Spa and Shanghai mean that Shaytar, Bertolini and Basov enjoy a healthy 19-point advantage over AF Corse trio Emmanuel Collard, Francois Perrodo and Rui Aguas.

“For me it would be a big pleasure to do it (take the title),” said Shaytar. “We have won Le Mans and also even last year in ELMS we did well with Andrea. The FIA WEC is a good and very strong championship and I really want to win it for the team and for my home country of Russia too!