Thursday 14 / November / 2024
Muscat: Podium finishing Pro-Am Blancpain Endurance Cup racer Ahmad Al Harthy is relishing his return to action when the 2016 season resumes in France on Saturday, where the second longest challenge of the campaign awaits — the six hour Paul Ricard 1000km.
Still buoyed by the superb maiden Pro-Am podium the Muscat driver and Oman Racing Team powered by Motorbase team-mates Jonny Adam and Devon Modell achieved five weeks ago at Silverstone in the UK, they are now ready to try and do it all again a few days from now.
At six hours in duration, the Paul Ricard encounter will be double the length of the Silverstone race last time out and, notably, it will also be contested through the evening and into the night – starting at 18.00 local time and finishing at midnight.
Offering twice the challenge of the opening two events of the Blancpain Endurance Cup season, this weekend’s race meeting will also act as excellent preparation for the biggest event of the campaign, the blue riband twice-round-the-clock Total 24 Hours of Spa which takes place in July.
“Everyone at the team is really looking forward to being back in action this weekend, it’s been a long break since Silverstone and so we’re all hungry to be back out in the car”, said Ahmad, “Taking the podium there really was a dream result for us, all of us have worked so hard to be in this position and we plan to be every bit as competitive at Paul Ricard.
“So much can happen in a six-hour race, of course, but if all of the preparations go smoothly and we can have a trouble-free qualifying then I’m sure we’ll be in good shape for the race. I know Jonny and Devon are looking forward to the challenge as much as I am, it should be a fantastic event.”
Going into round three of the Blancpain Endurance Cup season, Ahmad – who is supported by a prestigious portfolio of sponsors including Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs, Oman Air, National Bank of Oman (NBO), Barr Al Jissah and Omantel – is second in the Pro-Am championship.
After an outstanding performance at the wheel of the Oman Racing Team’s No.44 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 during round one at Monza in April, Ahmad just missed out on podium success with a top four Pro-Am finish.
Silverstone, though, marked the real breakthrough in the globe’s premier GT racing championship for the Aston Martin Middle East and North Africa ambassador who, with Adam and Modell, wasn’t very far away at all from actually winning the class.
On Friday, 24th June, the opening Bronze test session at Paul Ricard will begin at 10.00 (local time) with free practice following at 14.10 (local time). Pre-Qualifying will then get underway at 17.05 (local time).
Final qualifying is scheduled to commence at 09.45 (local time) on June 25 (Saturday), with the six hour 1000km starting at 18.00 (local time).
2016 Blancpain Endurance Cup Pro-Am Driver Standings (after Round 2): 2nd Ahmad Al Harthy/Jonny Adam/Devon Modell, 30pts
2016 Blancpain Endurance Cup Pro-Am Team Standings (after Round 2): 2nd Oman Racing Team powered by Motorbase, 30pts
