Team BMW Motorrad France head into this weekend's 8 Hours of Qatar, the final round of the 2011 Endurance World Championship, as one of the two favourites to be crowned as world champions at the end of the weekend.
A win at the 8 Hours of Albacete, a podium at the Bol d'Or and an impressive fourth place against the Japanese factory teams at Suzuka, means that Team BMW Motorrad France go into the season finale just nine points adrift of current championship leaders, SERT.
Team BMW Motorrad France's trio of riders, Sébastien Gimbert, Erwan Nigon and Damian Cudlin, know that only a win - and the 30 points that go with it - will do this weekend if they are to achieve their dream of being crowned world champions.
But while their goal this weekend is clear, Gimbert, Nigon and Cudlin are under no illusions as to how tough a challenge they face, taking on one of the most experienced and successful teams in endurance racing in only Team BMW Motorrad France's first full season in the championship.
The 8 Hours of Qatar takes place at the Losail International Circuit, which is located in the desert just 20km from the capital city of Doha. The weekend gets underway on Thursday 10th November with free practice and the first qualifying session, while the race will start at 13.00 on Saturday 12th November and finish at 21.00.
Erwan Nigon:
"Since the 24 Hours of Le Mans I have been doing some testing with Michelin, which has allowed me to keep up to speed ahead of the next race in Qatar. I've also ridden a lot of motocross to stay fit, so I will be heading to the Middle East in good shape. In Qatar we have to win the race if we are to take the championship, so that will be our only goal and we will take the risks necessary to achieve it. We have had a good season, with a race win at Albacete and podium at the Bol d'Or, so I'm pretty confident we can come away with another good result in Qatar."
Sébastien Gimbert:
"The Losail International Circuit in Qatar is one of my favourite tracks, and one where I've had some good results in the past. My teammates, Erwan and Damian, have also been quite successful at this track in the past, so we head into the final race of the season with some confidence. Since Le Mans I've been keeping fit with some Enduro Motocross in Auvergne, so I'm ready to race. I want the Endurance World Championship title; SERT will be hard to beat, but that won't stop us trying in Qatar. To win would be just reward for the team, for BMW and for Michelin, all of whom have worked so hard this season."
Damian Cudlin:
"While SERT will go into this weekend in Qatar as the firm favourites to win the championship this is endurance racing, so anything could happen. Our only focus is on winning the race, the rest we cannot influence. It's a good mentality to have and it certainly takes the pressure from us and puts it squarely on SERT's shoulders. We've all worked so hard to get into this position and now it's time to make the most of it. We're going to give it everything we've got in Doha and see what happens. Keep your fingers crossed!"