The extra point of the #8 Toyota GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercar Hartley shares with Sebastien Buemi and Ryo Hirakawa is significant in the championship battle between the two crews from the Japanese manufacturer.
It means that the #8 crew only have to finish third to take the WEC Hypercar title even if Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Jose Maria Lopez win the race.
Hartley took the point with a brilliant performance at the Bahrain race, beating his Toyota team-mate, Kobayashi, to pole position.
The #8 Toyota GR010 HYBRID has been consistently strong throughout the season and this extra point puts them in a commanding position for the championship.
Kobayashi, Conway, and Lopez will undoubtedly push hard in the race to challenge for victory, but any victory for that crew will not be enough to seal the championship title.
With intense competition and skilled drivers on both sides, the championship battle promises to be an exhilarating culmination of the season.
The finale of the WEC Hypercar series is eagerly awaited by fans and competitors alike as they anticipate the outcome of this thrilling contest.