Australia’s Damian Cudlin was forced to watch another podium finish disappear under the lights in Doha on the weekend, at the final round of the World Endurance Championship in Qatar.
Having dominated every practice and qualifying session, the BMP Elf 99 BMW Team looked odds on favorites to take their first race win of the season in Qatar as Cudlin lined up in pole position for the start of the 8 hour race.
After struggling to start his engine on the line, Cudlin limped away in 20th position but soon made early progress in the race, disposing of his competitors one by one. Soon Cudlin had climbed to 2nd and began to close the deficit to the fast starting SERT Suzuki. As the gap reduced from 14 seconds to less than 3, Cudlin made his first scheduled pit stop and handed over to team mate, Sebastian Gimbert. Suzuki pitted a lap later and Vincent Phillipe handed the controls to World Superbike rider Sylvain Guintoli. Gimbert then caught and passed the Suzuki rider for the lead, as the pair engaged in an exciting dual, exchanging passes every lap for outright supremacy.
