DOHA: Team WRT drivers Ahmad al Harthy and Valentino Rossi combined to deliver a pleasingly strong eighth position in qualifying for Friday's first round of the FIA World Endurance Championship season in Lusail, the 10-hour Qatar 1812km.
Taking the first 15-minute session in the No 46 BMW M4 LMGT3 on February 27, Oman’s Al Harthy built his pace nicely after beginning with an opening flying lap of 1m56.473 seconds to place inside the top four at that point.
Improving by a full half second on his next tour, he was fourth again with a lap of 1m55.998 seconds, Al Harthy then managed to shave a fraction off that time to post a best of 1m55.949 seconds to end the period sixth on the timing screens, therefore easily progressing into the all-important Hyperpole.
Rossi climbed behind the wheel of the BMW M4 LMGT3 for the top 10 grid-determining run and he went on to conclude the 10-minute session eighth fastest with a time of 1m 54.989 seconds, the top BMW entry and just half a second shy of the class front row.
Marking a solid beginning to the FIA World Endurance Championship campaign for Al Harthy, Rossi and new team-mate Kelvin van der Linde, the trio go into today’s big 10-hour race with a focus on securing as many points as possible and to make good progress through the order.
Free practice on February 26 and 27 at Lusail International Circuit was largely focused on work linked to the race set-up for the Qatar 1812km and Al Harthy is hopeful this will pay dividends when the action begins later this afternoon.
Supported by key partners OQ Group, Sohar International, Omantel, BMW Oman, Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth; and Experience Oman, the Omani team is determined to deliver a great show for the many fans and supporters who will be in attendance at the track.
Ahmad Al Harthy:
“I’m absolutely delighted we were well inside the top 10 in qualifying to move through to Hyperpole, for sure P8 is a great place to start the first race of the FIA WEC season. I kept pushing in my session, and Vale did a great job in Hyperpole itself, so we’re now hoping for a good start to the race and to be able to build from there.
All of the guys in the team have done a great job so far. We know it’s an endurance race, it’s a long 10 hour race, so we’re focusing on that and will be pushing for consistency and, hopefully, a good result at the chequered flag.”
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