MUSCAT: Losail International Circuit in Qatar is the venue for Ahmad Al Harthy’s eagerly awaited first race with Team WRT and BMW on Saturday, as the new FIA World Endurance Championship season gets underway with the Qatar Airways Qatar 1812km.
Oman’s Al Harthy, who officially launched his exciting 2024 motor racing campaign just over a week ago, is embarking on his most ambitious and high-profile year of competition yet as team-mate to global sporting icon Valentino Rossi and BMW pro driver Maxime Martin.
Partnering up in the new LMGT3 class, the trio heads into the first round of the FIA WEC season in positive mood after this week’s two-day ‘Prologue’ test at Losail which took place on Monday, 26th February, and Tuesday, 27th February.
Marking Al Harthy’s first official outing in the No.46 car, the team-mates utilised the time to get as settled as possible in the stunning new BMW M4 LMGT3 and to prepare well for free practice and qualifying over the next couple of days in Qatar.
Al Harthy, who is supported throughout 2024 by prestigious partners OQ, Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Omantel and BMW Oman, enjoyed an excellent first season in FIA WEC last year where he achieved two podium results.
Now, with a fantastic new challenge ahead, Al Harthy is absolutely relishing the opportunity to once again fly the flag for Oman – aiming to get the campaign underway positively in Saturday’s 10-hour endurance contest.
For FIA WEC round one, 18 cars are set to do battle in LMGT3 with a combined entry of close to 40 cars when including the Hypercar class. Featuring some of the globe’s most highly respected and successful professional racing drivers as well, it’s a very exciting prospect.
Ahmad al Harthy said, “This weekend marks the start of an amazing new chapter in my career and I cannot wait to be out on track, racing the new BMW M4 LMGT3 for the first time. It’s great to be starting the season so close to home as well, meaning we have a huge amount of support coming to Qatar with our incredible partners, family and friends.
“It’s been a very busy few weeks getting everything in place, so it was great to get behind the wheel in the Prologue this week. Now we’re focused on putting together some positive free practice sessions so we can go into qualifying on Friday in the best shape possible. Everything is new for me this year, the team, my team-mates and, of course, the BMW, but it’s an incredible new challenge and one I’m absolutely ready for,” he ended.
Two free practice sessions will take place in Losail today, with a third practice run and qualifying following on Friday, the latter beginning at 16:00 local time. Round one of the FIA WEC season begins at 11:00 local time on Saturday.
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