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Audi's absence will make WEC title battle tougher - Jani

Porsche driver Neel Jani says the fact there will only be two teams capable of taking race victories in the FIA WEC next season will make winning the championship harder.

#5 Toyota Racing Toyota TS050 Hybrid: Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima, Anthony Davidson, #2 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Romain Dumas, Neel Jani, Marc Lieb

#5 Toyota Racing Toyota TS050 Hybrid: Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima, Anthony Davidson, #2 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Romain Dumas, Neel Jani, Marc Lieb

Toyota Racing

World Champion LMP1 #2 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Romain Dumas, Neel Jani, Marc Lieb
#2 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Romain Dumas, Neel Jani, Marc Lieb
Neel Jani, Porsche Team
#5 Toyota Racing Toyota TS050 Hybrid: Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima, Anthony Davidson
#2 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Romain Dumas, Neel Jani, Marc Lieb
Jose Maria Lopez, Citroën and wife
#5 Toyota Racing Toyota TS050 Hybrid: Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima, Anthony Davidson

Jani collected the 2016 title in the season finale along with teammates Marc Lieb and Romain Dumas, neither of whom will be returning to the Porsche LMP1 squad next year.

Audi’s pull-out means that only Porsche and Toyota will be left at the head of the field in the LMP1-H class in 2017, with fewer potentially race-winning cars at each event.

Jani, who failed to finish higher than fourth in any race after winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in June, believes this will make it harder to mount a title bid without being right on the pace.

“Obviously it’s sad that Audi left,” said the Swiss driver at the FIA Gala Awards in Vienna. “Now it’s just Toyota and us, but for us this year was the most competitive season we’ve ever had in WEC.

“Audi won races, Toyota won races, we won races, and next year, when only Toyota and us can win, it will make the championship more difficult if you are not on the pace every weekend.

“You need to be up there if so few people can win. It will definitely change a little bit how we approach the races.”

Lopez hints at Toyota future

Jose Maria Lopez, who was present to collect the trophy for his third successive WTCC drivers’ title, meanwhile dropped the firmest hint yet that he will be a Toyota WEC driver in 2017.

“I need to finish my contract with Citroen, the 31st of December is my last day,” said Lopez, who is expected to replace Stephane Sarrazin at Toyota.

“I'm involved in Formula E - and, for sure, I always have said my will to one day to do my dream, which is to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“As for the rest, there's not much I can tell you at the moment. If they speak, it's good, but it's nothing official.”

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