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GT Racing
GT: Gulf 12 Hours Preview
SPEED.com previews the 16-car field and sits down with event promoter, Andrea Ficarelli...
The stunning state-of-the-art Yas Marina Circuit plays host to the inaugural Gulf 12 Hours this week. (Photo: John Dagys)
Less than a week after Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai, the stunning Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi comes alive for the inaugural running of the Gulf 12 Hours. While the event, organized by Driving Force Events Ltd., had come under fire recently due lack of information and rumors of the race’s cancellation, all systems are go for the unique endurance race, split up into two six-hour heats, to take the green flag on Friday.
A modest 16 cars have been entered for the first-ever endurance race around the state-of-the-art 3.45-mile circuit on Yas Island, featuring a mix of GT3, GT4 and GTC-level Cup cars, as well as FIA CN-class purpose-built prototypes. While it’s arguably a slim field, organizers have made the best of a challenging situation, with logistical and political issues getting in the way of having more cars on the grid, according to promoter Andrea Ficarelli.
“The rumors that this event could have been canceled was absolutely out of any reality because we have never even discussed that possibility,” Ficarelli told SPEED.com. “We cannot say 100 percent that this came from [Dubai 24 promoter] Creventic but we could only say that several teams have been told by people working for Creventic that this was the situation. That there will basically be no cars and the race was in doubt.”
Only three cars, AF Corse’s Ferrari F458 Italia GT3, the Autorlando Porsche 997 GT3-R and an Audi R8 LMS from United Autosports, have made the trip from Dubai. Both of Gulf Racing’s Lamborghini Gallardo and Aston Martin Vantage GT4, as well as the Blancpain Reiter Lambo, were forced to withdraw from Abu Dhabi due to damage sustained in last weekend’s twice-around-the-clock enduro.
Two cars that didn’t race at Dubai, a second AF Corse Ferrari and Kessel Racing’s Prancing Horse, complete the GT3 lineup, which will likely be fighting for overall race honors with up to a half-dozen FIA CN cars. The purpose-built prototypes, similar to IMSA Prototype Lites, normally compete in the SPEED EuroSeries and French VdeV championships.
The most unique element of Friday’s event is that it’s split up into two six-hour races, with a 90-minute intermission, in efforts of allowing teams with less endurance racing experience a shot at victory. Overall and class winners will be determined by the aggregate number of laps completed in both races combined, with the grid for the second race set by the order which the cars took the checkered flag in the Race 1.
“The reason behind that was to create a situation where it was more of an entry level for teams that are not used to endurance races,” Ficarelli said. “It's also an opportunity for teams with cars not specifically developed for endurance racing, like GT4, to have a bit of time in between and do maintenance, such as changing the brakes.”
The two-day event gets underway Thursday, with three one-hour practice sessions followed by four 20-minute qualifying sessions (for each driver), as well two night sessions.
Race 1 takes the green flag Friday at 9:30 a.m. local (12:30 a.m. ET), with Race 2 set for 5 p.m. local (8:00 a.m. ET).
ENTRY LIST:
GT3 (5 Entries)
1 – Kessel Racing/Racing Car SA – Ferrari 458 Italia – Broniszewski-Combra-Peter-Ramos
3 – AF Corse – Ferrari 458 Italia – Cioci-Griffin-Perazzini
4 – Autorlando – Porsche 997 GT3-R – Andreasi-Di Guida-Paladino
5 – United Autosports – Audi R8 LMS – Dalziel-Popow-Potolicchio
90 – AF Corse – Ferrari 458 Italia – Ardagna-Cadei-Ciro
GT4 (2 Entries)
6 – Yas Marina Circuit – Aston Martin Vantage GT4 – Al Mehairi-Al Mutawi-Bin Thani
7 – Aylezo Motorsports – Lotus 2-Eleven – Jaafar-Danial-Low
Cup (3 Entries)
8 – Bonaldi Motorsport – Lamborghini Gallardo – Caffi-Mame-Zanardini
9 – PFI-Racing – Porsche 997 GT3 Cup – Bender-Lofqvist-Skoog
10 – Team Lompech Sport – Porsche 997 GT3 Cup – Bossy-Guivert-Mignaic
FIA CN2 (6 Entries)
15 – if Motorsport – Ligier JS49 – Bell-Serrano-Weeder
16 – if Motorsport – Ligier JS49 – Allos-Renom-Smithson
18 – Ibanez Racing Service – Norma M20F – Mace-Mothe-Yschard
45 – Avelon Formula – Wolf GB08 – Bellarosa-Belotti-Lian
46– Avelon Formula – Wolf GB08 – Al Daheri-Romagnoli-Varini-Vinella
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
A modest 16 cars have been entered for the first-ever endurance race around the state-of-the-art 3.45-mile circuit on Yas Island, featuring a mix of GT3, GT4 and GTC-level Cup cars, as well as FIA CN-class purpose-built prototypes. While it’s arguably a slim field, organizers have made the best of a challenging situation, with logistical and political issues getting in the way of having more cars on the grid, according to promoter Andrea Ficarelli.
“The rumors that this event could have been canceled was absolutely out of any reality because we have never even discussed that possibility,” Ficarelli told SPEED.com. “We cannot say 100 percent that this came from [Dubai 24 promoter] Creventic but we could only say that several teams have been told by people working for Creventic that this was the situation. That there will basically be no cars and the race was in doubt.”
Only three cars, AF Corse’s Ferrari F458 Italia GT3, the Autorlando Porsche 997 GT3-R and an Audi R8 LMS from United Autosports, have made the trip from Dubai. Both of Gulf Racing’s Lamborghini Gallardo and Aston Martin Vantage GT4, as well as the Blancpain Reiter Lambo, were forced to withdraw from Abu Dhabi due to damage sustained in last weekend’s twice-around-the-clock enduro.
Two cars that didn’t race at Dubai, a second AF Corse Ferrari and Kessel Racing’s Prancing Horse, complete the GT3 lineup, which will likely be fighting for overall race honors with up to a half-dozen FIA CN cars. The purpose-built prototypes, similar to IMSA Prototype Lites, normally compete in the SPEED EuroSeries and French VdeV championships.
The most unique element of Friday’s event is that it’s split up into two six-hour races, with a 90-minute intermission, in efforts of allowing teams with less endurance racing experience a shot at victory. Overall and class winners will be determined by the aggregate number of laps completed in both races combined, with the grid for the second race set by the order which the cars took the checkered flag in the Race 1.
“The reason behind that was to create a situation where it was more of an entry level for teams that are not used to endurance races,” Ficarelli said. “It's also an opportunity for teams with cars not specifically developed for endurance racing, like GT4, to have a bit of time in between and do maintenance, such as changing the brakes.”
The two-day event gets underway Thursday, with three one-hour practice sessions followed by four 20-minute qualifying sessions (for each driver), as well two night sessions.
Race 1 takes the green flag Friday at 9:30 a.m. local (12:30 a.m. ET), with Race 2 set for 5 p.m. local (8:00 a.m. ET).
ENTRY LIST:
GT3 (5 Entries)
1 – Kessel Racing/Racing Car SA – Ferrari 458 Italia – Broniszewski-Combra-Peter-Ramos
3 – AF Corse – Ferrari 458 Italia – Cioci-Griffin-Perazzini
4 – Autorlando – Porsche 997 GT3-R – Andreasi-Di Guida-Paladino
5 – United Autosports – Audi R8 LMS – Dalziel-Popow-Potolicchio
90 – AF Corse – Ferrari 458 Italia – Ardagna-Cadei-Ciro
GT4 (2 Entries)
6 – Yas Marina Circuit – Aston Martin Vantage GT4 – Al Mehairi-Al Mutawi-Bin Thani
7 – Aylezo Motorsports – Lotus 2-Eleven – Jaafar-Danial-Low
Cup (3 Entries)
8 – Bonaldi Motorsport – Lamborghini Gallardo – Caffi-Mame-Zanardini
9 – PFI-Racing – Porsche 997 GT3 Cup – Bender-Lofqvist-Skoog
10 – Team Lompech Sport – Porsche 997 GT3 Cup – Bossy-Guivert-Mignaic
FIA CN2 (6 Entries)
15 – if Motorsport – Ligier JS49 – Bell-Serrano-Weeder
16 – if Motorsport – Ligier JS49 – Allos-Renom-Smithson
18 – Ibanez Racing Service – Norma M20F – Mace-Mothe-Yschard
45 – Avelon Formula – Wolf GB08 – Bellarosa-Belotti-Lian
46– Avelon Formula – Wolf GB08 – Al Daheri-Romagnoli-Varini-Vinella
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
FIA GT Nogaro
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