Dubai 24 Hour
24H Series
VenueDubai Autodrome
First race2006
First 24H Series race2015
Duration24 Hours
Most wins (driver)Jeroen Bleekemolen (3)
Khaled al Qubaisi (3)
Hubert Haupt (3)
Most wins (team)Black Falcon (5)
Most wins (manufacturer)Porsche (6)

The Dubai 24 Hour Race is both a sports car and touring car automobile endurance race held annually at the Dubai Autodrome. It was inaugurated in 2006.

Entrants and participants

Dubai Autodrome Track Map

As with all races in the 24H Series, promoted by Dutch promoter Creventic, they are open to both professional and semi-professional teams. There are both local competitors from the UAE and surrounding nations in the Persian Gulf as well as a host of international teams particularly from European nations.[1]

Unlike the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France whereby teams are invited by the organizers to compete, the Dubai 24 Hour is solely made up of teams who have registered prior to the commencing of the actual race. Entrants must file in a registration application in order to have a chance at competing. Entry and registration fees also apply for competitors.

Class structure

The race features both a variety of Grand tourer (GT), touring cars as well as specially built silhouette cars from a wide range of marques which are eligible to enter. These range from small-engined Super 2000 hatchbacks (such as the Renault Clio and Honda Civic) to racing-bred sport cars (such as the Porsche 911 GT3 & Marcos Mantis GT).[2]

A method of performance-balancing by the organisers of the event is existent throughout many of the classes featured in the Endurance Race. An example of this can be witnessed in the A2 Class whereby Super 1600 cars race alongside Super 2000 and run on equal performance as the 1,600 cc cars are allowed to carry less weight. Other factors such as a larger fuel tank and also the tire manufacturer for specific classes or ensure even competition.

Classes

A1

This is class restricted for subcompact cars. Cars with a maximum engine displacement of 1,300 cc can run on a minimum weight of 750 kg and an 80-litre fuel tank while cars with displacements up to 1,600 cc are run with a minimum weight of 820 kg and a 90-litre fuel tank. Cars that can feature in this class include the Honda Jazz, Toyota Echo, Nissan Tiida as well as other makes.[3]

A2

The A2 class features a host of Super 1600 and Super 2000 vehicles. These cars generally feature hatchback and small sedan vehicles. The engine displacement range in this class is between 1,600 cc and 2,000 cc and turbocharging for performance enhancement is not allowed. 1,600 cc to 1,800 cc vehicles can have a minimum weight of 900 kg while 1,800 cc to 2,000 cc cars are to have a minimum weight of 980 kg.[2] Compact cars generally make up the field for the A2 Class with the most common makes being the Clio Renault Sport and the Honda Civic Type R.[3]

A3T

This class is specifically for cars with engine displacement up to 2,500 cc their engine is enhanced by a turbocharger. In other words, only vehicles which are turbocharged are eligible to compete in the class. All cars in this class run on 100-litre fuel tanks regardless of engine displacement or car weight.[2] In the 2009 version of the race, the class was mainly made up of Turbo-diesel or TDI compact cars such as the SEAT León Super Copa and the Volkswagen Golf R-Line.[3]

A4

The A4 Class is made-up entirely of mid-size cars with an engine displacement between 2,000 cc and 3,000 cc. Due to the wide nature of eligibility of this class, there are certain restrictions on larger engine vehicles. Cars between 2,000 cc and 2,500 cc can have a minimum weight of 1,000 kg while cars between 2,500 cc and 3,000 cc are to have a minimum weight of 1,100 kg.[2] In the 2009, Dubai 24 Hour, the class featured three BMW 130i, a BMW Z4 Coupe and a Porsche 964 Carrera.[3]

A5

The A5 class pits genuine FIA-GT4 category cars against each. However, the cars in this class are to have a maximum displacement of 3,500 cc. Most of the vehicles in this class are sports car coupes with V8, 3.0L+ engines. All cars are required to weigh at least 1,200 kg and utilise a 120-litre fuel tank which are standard across the category.[2] The 2009 24 Hour Race saw an entire field of a number of makes from the German manufacturer BMW ranging from Z4 Coupes to modified M3 GT-Rs.[3]

A6

This is the highest echelon of Petrol-driven vehicles in the race and is also the quickest category in the race. It features a host of FIA-approved GT3 Category cars from across the globe. The vehicles must have at least 3,500 cc of engine displacement and cannot exceed 4,000 cc. Due to the vehicles with 3,750 cc to 4,000 cc having an acceleration and top-speed edge than the makes below 3,750 cc, they must carry at least 1,300 kg of weight, thus being the heaviest of the entire race and can only have tanks capable of carrying 90 litres of fuel.[2] Vehicles below this, can have a minimum weight limit of 1,150 kg and a 120-litre fuel tank.

991 & 997 Class

Class 997 Porsche 997 Cup Cars* (models 2007..2013) Class 991 Porsche 991 Cup Cars* (models 2014..2017)

D1

The first of the diesel powered-car classes, this class aims at drawing together an array of vehicles driven on diesel for the full duration of the race. D1 features vehicles with Engine displacements up to 2,000 cc, which is ideal for smaller-sized hatchback TDI vehicles.[2] This is why the 2009 grid saw an array of European hatchbacks including the Volkswagen Scirocco R, SEAT León TDI and BMW 120d.[3]

D2

The D2 class caters for diesel-powered vehicles exceeding the limit of 2,000 cc in D1. Generally, mid-sized & full-sized cars occupy the grid. Turbocharging is permitted in this class but handicaps apply to higher displacement vehicles. For example, cars with 2,500 cc to 3,000 cc must meet the minimum limit of 1,200 kg while cars below that displacement have a minimum weight limit of 1,100 kg.[2] A number of BMW 120d makes featured in the class in the 2009 race as well as a BMW 320d.[3]

SP1

The SP1 class is the first of the Special Cars class and houses silhouette petrol-driven racing cars which have a chassis modified from their production counterparts. SP1 sees a mix of uniquely designed vehicles built specifically for high-powered Touring car racing. The vehicles in this category often vary in great lengths in engine size, power and vehicle weight, therefore, vehicles who fit the Solution F category[4] can have a minimum weight of just 950 kg and a 120-litre fuel tank. Other silhouette cars with engines up 3,200 cc of displacement can have a minimum weight of 975 kg and are restricted to a 100-litre fuel tank. Cars with 3,200 cc to 3,600 cc must have a weight of at least 1,050 kg and a fuel tank with a capacity of 100L.[2]

SP2 GT3-A

This is a class reserved for FIA GT3 entrants whose vehicles surpass the 4,000 cc Engine displacement limit for the A6 cars and also for GT3 cars which have 6+ cylinders.

SP3 GT4-A

This is a class similar to the SP2 GT3-A category and it is reserved for SRO GT4-spec vehicles. There are performance balancing measures enforced by the racing organizers to balance out the field in the class. Depending on the Engine displacement of the vehicle an entrant will be assigned a minimum weight limit of either 750 kg or 1,200 kg and also a fuel tank capacity limit of either 120 litres or 100 litres.

SP4

This is the newest class for the race and is solely for hybrid vehicle racing cars and electric-powered race cars.[2] It will be running for the first time in 2010 edition of the Dubai 24 Hour. There are currently no performance balancing measures for the class.

Race winners

YearDriversTeamCarLapsDistance[lower-alpha 1]Fastest LapRemarks
2006 Austria Philipp Peter
Austria Dieter Quester
Germany Hans-Joachim Stuck
Austria Toto Wolff
Austria Duller Motorsport BMW M3 CSL 519 2797.41 2:10.057
2007 United Kingdom Jamie Campbell-Walter
Austria Philipp Peter
Austria Dieter Quester
Germany Dirk Werner
Austria Duller Motorsport BMW Z4 Coupe 567 3056.13 2:04.435 First team to win Back to back races.
2008 New Zealand Craig Baird
Australia Klark Quinn
United Kingdom Tony Quinn
Australia Jonathon Webb
Australia VIP Pet Foods Porsche 997 GT3-RSR 504 2716.56 2:03.334
2009 France Gabriël Abergel
Lithuania Andrzej Dzikevic
Germany Niclas Kentenich
Germany Carsten Tilke
Germany Land Motorsport Porsche 997 GT3 Cup 573 3088.47 2:02.524
2010 Germany Marco Holzer
France Raymond Narac
France Patrick Pilet
France IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 997 GT3-RSR 608 3277.12 2:03.348
2011 Brazil Augusto Farfus
Germany Claudia Hürtgen
United States Tommy Milner
Sweden Edward Sandström
Germany Need for Speed by Schubert Motorsport BMW Z4 GT3 594 3201.66 2:04.858
2012 United Arab Emirates Khaled Al Qubaisi
Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen
United Kingdom Sean Edwards
Germany Thomas Jäger
United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi by Black Falcon Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 628 3384.92 2:01.921 New distance record.
2013 United Arab Emirates Khaled Al Qubaisi
Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen
United Kingdom Sean Edwards
Germany Bernd Schneider
United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi by Black Falcon Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 600 3234.00 1:59.472 Second team to win Back to back races since Duller Motorsport in 2007.
2014 Switzerland Adrian Amstutz
Germany Christian Engelhart
Switzerland Mark Ineichen
Switzerland Rolf Ineichen
Switzerland Marcel Matter
Switzerland Stadler Motorsport Porsche 997 GT3-R 603 3250.17 1:59.537
2015 Saudi Arabia Abdulaziz Al Faisal
Netherlands Yelmer Buurman
Germany Hubert Haupt
United Kingdom Oliver Webb
Germany Black Falcon 2 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 604 3255.56 1:59.545
2016 France Alain Ferté
United Kingdom Stuart Leonard
United Kingdom Michael Meadows
Belgium Laurens Vanthoor
Belgium Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 LMS 588 3169.32 1:58.712
2017 Switzerland Daniel Allemann
Germany Ralf Bohn
New Zealand Brendon Hartley
Germany Alfred Renauer
Germany Robert Renauer
Germany Herberth Motorsport Porsche 991 GT3 R 578 3115.42 1:59.198
2018 Saudi Arabia Abdulaziz Al Faisal
Netherlands Yelmer Buurman
Germany Hubert Haupt
Italy Gabriele Piana
Germany Black Falcon Mercedes-AMG GT3 606 3266.34 1:59.394
2019 Netherlands Rik Breukers
Germany Christopher Haase
Germany Dimitri Parhofer
Belgium Frédéric Vervisch
Germany Car Collection Motorsport Audi R8 LMS Evo 607 3271.73 1:58.695
2020 United Arab Emirates Khaled Al Qubaisi
United Kingdom Ben Barker
Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen
Germany Hubert Haupt
Germany Manuel Metzger
Germany Black Falcon Mercedes-AMG GT3 168 905.52[lower-alpha 2] 1:59.430 Shortest distance record.[lower-alpha 2]
2021 France Julien Andlauer
United Arab Emirates Frédéric Fatien
France Alain Ferté
France Mathieu Jaminet
Zimbabwe Axcil Jefferies
United Arab Emirates GPX Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R 600 3234.00 1:58.606 First team from the Middle East to win.
2022 Saudi Arabia Mohammed Bin Saud Al Saud
Zimbabwe Axcil Jefferies
Germany Christopher Mies
France Thomas Neubauer
Belgium Dries Vanthoor
Saudi Arabia MS7 by WRT Audi R8 LMS Evo 596 3212.44 1:59.110
2023 Saudi Arabia Mohammed Bin Saud Al Saud
Germany Jens Klingmann
Mexico Diego Menchaca
France Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer
Belgium Dries Vanthoor
Saudi Arabia MS7 by WRT BMW M4 GT3 621 3347.19 1:59.444 Third team to win Back to back races since Abu Dhabi by Black Falcon in 2013.
Also, First team to win in two different Manufactures.

Drivers' title wins

Wins Driver Years
3 Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen 2012, 2013, 2020
United Arab Emirates Khaled Al Qubaisi 2012, 2013, 2020
Germany Hubert Haupt 2015, 2018, 2020
2 Austria Philipp Peter 2006, 2007
Austria Dieter Quester 2006, 2007
United Kingdom Sean Edwards 2012, 2013
Saudi Arabia Abdulaziz Al Faisal 2015, 2018
Saudi Arabia Mohammed Bin Saud Al Saud 2022, 2023
Belgium Dries Vanthoor 2022, 2023

Manufacturer title wins

Wins Manufacturer Year(s) Team Year(s)
6 Germany Porsche 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2021 Australia VIP Pet Foods 2008
Germany Land Motorsport 2009
France IMSA Performance Matmut 2010
Switzerland Stadler Motorsport 2014
Germany Herberth Motorsport 2017
United Arab Emirates GPX Racing 2021
5 Germany Mercedes-Benz 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020 United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi by Black Falcon 2012, 2013
Germany Black Falcon 2015, 2018, 2020
4 Germany BMW 2006, 2007, 2011, 2023 Austria Duller Motorsport 2006, 2007
Germany Need for Speed by Schubert Motorsport 2011
Saudi Arabia MS7 by WRT 2023
3 Germany Audi 2016, 2019, 2022 Belgium Belgian Audi Club Team WRT 2016
Germany Car Collection Motorsport 2019
Saudi Arabia MS7 by WRT 2022

See also

Notes

  1. Distance is calculated by Laps completed & measured in Kilometres
  2. 1 2 Race stopped at 7:18 of the race, and called after 16 hours (including 8:48 of red flag time) because of heavy rain which flooded the track.[5]

References

  1. "Race Philosophy". Dubai 24 Hour. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "2009 Eligibility & Class structure list" (PDF). Creventic. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 8, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Class Entry list". Dubai 24Hour. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
  4. "Solution F Information". The Race of Champions. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
  5. "Black Falcon Mercedes-AMG wins rain-shortened 15th Hankook 24H DUBAI". 24H Series. Creventic. 11 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.