An expanded 12th edition of the event is expected to see a record high of 100 cars across 13 classes take
to Dubai Autodrome from 14:00 on Friday. This packed field will contain vehicles which operate at different performance levels with both amateur and professional drivers behind the wheel, raising the possibility of an action packed start to the opening round of the 2017 24H Endurance Series.
Team Abu Dhabi Racing Black Falcon competitor Al Qubaisi’s last two attempts have ended with crashes, in contrast to his consecutive wins during 2012 and 2013. At the wheel of his new Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the A6-Pro category, he spoke confidently of having the pace to make it a hat-trick as long as his four-man team manages to survive the hazardous conditions.
“I am feeling very good,” said Al Qubaisi, who won both the Mexico and Bahrain events with Abu Dhabi-Proton Racing during the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship. “We have been waiting a long time for this.
“It is my home race, it is a great race – one of the best events here alongside Formula One (the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix).
“It has been in the works for the last three years (to win again). But we have always had bad luck.
“We have always been the fastest and the team to beat. But incidents, trouble and accidents didn’t let us.
“That is an important thing here at Dubai 24H. We really need to take care and stay out of trouble as much as possible.
“In 2015, I crashed out. In 2016, Jeroen [Bleekemolen] crashed out.
“I gave myself a beating for crashing out and Jeroen is one of the top GT drivers, so it shows this is a very tough race to stay out of trouble.
“It is my sixth year racing with Black Falcon. We have a very good relationship with them and Mercedes, great support and great team.
“We always have the fastest car, but it is a matter of surviving.”
Joining Al Qubaisi in the sister Black Falcon car is Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud. The 33-year-old competitor has also tasted success at Motor City, storming to victory two years ago.
They will take the fight to holders Belgian Audi Club WRT, who have retained just Englishman Stuart Leonard from 2016’s roster.
The Middle Easterners will be driving an updated model of the AMG GT3, which was unveiled this week. Prince Abdulaziz was convinced the teething issues of the prior vehicle have been eliminated.
“I am glad we are here again for my 11th year,” said the Red Bull-sponsored athlete. “Hopefully, it ends in a good place and good position.
“They ask me after I won it [in 2015] what will I do? I replied: ‘I’ll keep coming.’
“For me, I enjoy racing and love it. Winning doesn’t mean I have to stop. The car feels really good. We had a test here last weekend, trying some parts and set-ups.
“We were bedding in the driveshafts and the front brakes. You cannot really push until after 10 laps.
“The traffic will be chaotic, but you get used to it.”
The opening running in 2006 of Dubai 24H was a privateers’ racing event, contained no Arab drivers or teams and was restricted to 67 entrants. The field has now ballooned to a maximum of 100, with lustre added by being given full FIA-approved international endurance series status.
“I don’t call it a race, I call it a phenomenon,” said Mohammed bin Sulayem, president of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE and FIA vice president. “I saw this event when it was tiny.
