Tuesday 22 / October / 2024
Muscat: Omani racer Ahmad Al Harthy made history on Sunday by becoming the first Arab racer to finish in the first position at the Imola round of the prestigious European Le Mans (ELMS) race series.
The ELMS consists of a series of seven races, each four hours long that are considered a test of drivers’ endurance and ability on the racetrack.
Al Harthy and his fellow drivers Sam De Haan and Marco Sorensen, all of whom race for Oman Racing with TF Sport, also finished in pole position on Saturday’s qualifiers at Imola – one of the world’s most famous racetracks – before repeating the feat on Sunday during the race proper. The result leaves Oman Racing with TF Sport at joint top of the standings with Rinaldi Racing.
“To finish in pole position on Saturday and then win the race on Sunday only makes it an even more perfect weekend for us,” he said, speaking exclusively to Times of Oman. “Of course, this is not just down to me: It is thanks to my teammates, the team itself because they made amazing strategy calls during the four hours of racing – a lot was changing throughout that time.
“We had to be on top of our game, and they made sure we chose the right strategies,” he added. “That was great for us, and it is a new achievement for Omani motorsport. To secure a first win as an Arab team at the ELMS is of course amazing. To hear the national anthem and see your flag fly on the podium, and that our sister car’s team was also on the podium was an added bonus for us as a team.”
Pre-race testing at Imola began on Thursday, with official testing on Friday. Saturday was qualifying, and the race itself occurred on Sunday. The ELMS consists of a series of races, each of which has points and ranking system for drivers.
Every leg has its own race winners and podium finishers, and there is an overall winner at the end as well. ELMS is very similar to Formula 1, except that each car has three drivers instead of just one, because each race is four hours’ long, and there is a need to change drivers every one or two hours. Prototype vehicles are also often tested during these races.
The Italian circuit of Imola is the second leg of the ELMS, and Al Harthy’s podium finish was all the more important, given the difficulties faced in round one at Le Castellet in France.
“Round one didn’t go as planned – we were unfortunately unable to complete the race because of faults with another car that affected us. We are so happy to have bounced back because this puts us in a good position. Al Harthy and co. are now busy preparing for the upcoming races on the ELMS: Their next showdown is in Monza on 3 July, followed by Barcelona (28 August), Spa-Francorchamps (25 September) and Portimao (16 October). A seasoned racer in his 14th year of pro-racing, Al Harthy knows the importance of not letting early success go to his head.
“It is about having a proper schedule, pre-planning everything,” he admitted. “This is of course not something that applies to just me. There are hundreds of international drivers travelling to take part in races, so in terms of readiness, it is important that we are always ready. This is professionally what we do. We know that we are there to achieve a certain target and to achieve the best for our teams and countries.
“We physically train throughout the year for these events: During my two hours spent driving the car, I felt great while out there on the track,” he added. “In terms of racetracks, each circuit has its own characteristics. There are other factors to consider: The weather, for example, while some tracks may suit some cars over others. Imola is a very technical circuit. There is little room for error, and the track can be very demanding. However, there are others that are wider and do not punish you as much for mistakes made.”
Through his success on the track, Ahmad Al Harthy hopes to improve Oman’s profile on the international stage and serve as an example to other young motorsport enthusiasts in the country.
“Being the first circuit racer in the country has been an important part of my career, and I want the next generation of racers – today’s youngsters – to follow the right path to motorsport,” he said. “Motorsport is a complex sport, and it needs to be analysed correctly.
“You need to have realistic targets for yourself, and I hope that what we are doing in the world of endurance racing highlights the importance of being really grounded in what we do,” he added. “I hope this will give us the opportunity to raise the profile of Oman as a country and its ability to produce racers who can compete in motorsports.”
