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Toyo Tires 24H Dubai - Final Update

© 24H Series

In the final hours of the race there were four teams that were still in it for the victory. Al Faisal Racing and ARC Bratislava were the main contenders, having shared the lead for most of the previous hours, but the Land Motorsport 2 and Besaplast Racing Team cars were never that far away and were waiting for their chance to get in front.

After 19 hours of racing the Al Faisal team was over a lap ahead of ARC Bratislava, despite having spent 23 more minutes in the pit so far. By then the Besaplast Racing Team Porsche had moved into third place.

Two hours later Besaplast Racing Team had moved into second place, although this had more to do with a different pit stop strategy than pure speed. The Besaplast car was only 53 seconds behind the Al Faisal BMW but the team knew they still had to make a stop that would drop them back behind the ARC Bratislava car again.

A long pit stop meant the Al Faisal Racing BMW dropped down to fourth place, a position they were in after 22 hours of racing. By then Land Motorsport, which had not gone in, had taken the lead ahead of the Besaplast Racing Team and ARC Bratislava Porsches.

After another round of pit stops ARC Bratislava was back in the lead, although the gap to the Land Motorsport 2 Porsche was very small and it remained to be seen if the Land team would have to make another stop.

In the final hour the four cars were still within striking distance of each other. The four teams knew that any mistake would cost them their chance to win the race. A thrilling final of the 4th Toyo Tires 24H Dubai was on the cards.

ARC Bratislava went into the pit again with 36 minutes left on the clock, immediately dropping behind the Al Faisal Racing car. The Slovakian team made a rather long pit stop when mechanics started to work on the car. Minutes later the car was sent out again.

Al Faisal Racing moved back into second position, yet still behind the Land Motorsport 2 Porsche. Due to the two pit stops the ARC Bratislava made in the final hour the Porsche 997 GT3 RSR dropped to fourth place, behind Besaplast Racing Team. The (new) top three did not make a pit stop anymore in the final hour.

At the front Land Motorsport 2 kept out of trouble and looked set to win the race. Al Faisal Racing 1 did whatever they could do to catch the Porsche, but with just under ten minutes to go the gap between the numbers 1 and 2 was still 1 minute and 42 seconds. Al Faisal Racing never gave up though and with five minutes to go another 30 seconds were gone from the lead.
Another lap later the gap had gone to just over a minute, but despite the pace of the BMW it became clear that they would be running out of time to catch up with and overtake the Land Motorsport Porsche.

With just under 40 seconds on the clock the leader went into the final lap of the race. Behind them the Jetalliance Racing team, which had been in fifth place for a while, lost their position to the Hubert Bergh Motorsport Porsche.

After completing 573 laps the Land Motorsport 2 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup crossed the line and took the checkered flag, with the Al Faisal BMW Z4 M Coupé taking second place almost 50 seconds behind. Besaplast Racing Team kept the ARC Bratislava car behind, securing their third place podium finish.

A great result for Land Motorsport! The team was leading the race with their Porsche 997 GT3 RSR when it caught fire during the evening. Nevertheless they return to Germany with the biggest cup after their Porsche 997 GT3 Cup finished the job. The Al Faisal Racing Al Faisal BMW Z4 M Coupé also had a great race, especially when one realises that the winner spent one hour in the pit during the race and the BMW one hour and 40 minutes!

The top 10 after 24 hours

1. Land Motorsport 2 - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup - 573 laps
2. Al Faisal Racing 1 - BMW Z4 M Coupé - 573 laps
3. Besaplast Racing Team - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup - 571 laps
4. ARC Bratislava - Porsche 997 GT3 RSR - 570 laps
5. Hubert Bergh Motorsport - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup - 566 laps
6. Jetalliance Racing - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup - 566 laps
7. First Motorsport - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S - 548 laps
8. CM Creativ Marketing GmbH - Porsche 996 GT3 Cup - 546 laps
9. Duller Motorsport 1 - BMW M3 E46 GTR - 543 laps
10. De Lorenzi Racing srl. - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup - 543 laps