Latest title one to cherish

Brendon Hartley says he will never forget the moment he claimed his second World Endurance Championship title alongside childhood friend Earl Bamber and German Timo Bernhard.

The trio finished the Six Hours of Shanghai second in the No 2 Porsche 919 Hybrid to wrap up the WEC title with race to spare.

Porsche, who are leaving the elite LMP1 category in WEC at the end of the year, also won the manufacturers’ crown for the third year in a row.

The Toyota combination of Japan’s Kazuki Nakajima, Britain’s Anthony Davidson and Swiss racer Sebastien Buemi did everything they could to keep the series alive, qualifying on pole and winning the race, but they needed Hartley and co to finish fourth or worst.

Palmerston North’s Hartley, who made his Formula One debut with Toro Rosso two weeks ago, said it was a special moment to share with former karting rival Bamber, of Wanganui.

‘‘We definitely have had an incredibly year,’’ Hartley said. ‘‘Taking the world championship title after winning Le Mans – it might take a while until it all sinks in. I had a few busy weeks but sharing this moment with Earl and Timo I will not forget for the rest of my life,’’ he said.

For Hartley and Bernhard it was their second WEC crown having also picked up the title when driving with Australian Mark Webber in 2015.

Bamber replaced Webber this year and was ecstatic with his first title.

‘‘World champion, it just sounds amazing,’’ he said. ‘‘The team was fighting hard for it all year and now we grab the manufacturers’ and drivers’ world championship.

‘‘The task was to bring it home in third position which ultimately became second. This weekend is super special.’’

Bamber was joined in Shanghai by brother William. His mother Maureen streamed the race from her home in Wanganui.

‘‘It is just fantastic, it is very, very cool,’’ she said.

Bamber, Hartley and Bernhard won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans earlier this year – it was the second time Bamber won the race after picking up the title in 2015.

The trio also won the WEC rounds in Nurburgring, Mexico and Texas this year. But their effort in Shanghai was less about a dominant performance and more about just getting the job done.

‘‘We knew a third place finish would be enough,’’ Bernhard said. ‘‘I could have pushed harder but it just wasn’t necessary. Instead we slowed the car down a bit for safety. Toyota was not really within reach today, but the car was reliable and the crew did another sensational job.’’