• Second event of GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup this weekend
• Bronze Cup racer aims high with team-mates Sagrera and Williams
• Oman Racing by Century Motorsport sixth in championship ahead of Rd2
MONZA, Italy: Oman’s number one racing driver, Ahmad Al Harthy, makes his return to the scene of one of the most sensational results of his successful motorsport career this week, when round two of the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup takes place at Monza in Italy.
Following a competitive start to the new season at Circuit Paul Ricard in France last month with sixth place in the Bronze class with the No.42 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Al Harthy and the Oman Racing by Century Motorsport squad are relishing the three-hour Monza race on May 31.
The world-famous Italian track, one of the fastest in the world, has long been a happy hunting ground for Al Harthy in his international motor racing career. No result, though, is more famous than the astonishing, headline-grabbing outright GTWCE Endurance Cup race victory he achieved in 2024 with then team-mates Sam De Haan and Jens Klingmann.
Becoming the first non-Pro class entry to claim an overall success in the category’s history, the result was one of the proudest moments of the Omani’s career and a sporting achievement of immense magnitude for the Sultanate and Al Harthy’s many prestigious partners and supporters.
Going into round two of this season’s GTWCE, Al Harthy and his 2026 team-mates Calan Williams and Javier Sagrera are focused on building on the top six Bronze Cup result achieved in the campaign opening six-hour race in the south of France.
Al Harthy’s performance was impressive, moving from ninth in Bronze at the start to take the class lead midway through the second hour of his double stint. Delivering strong pace, excellent racecraft and eye-catching overtaking, the Omani is determined to produce more of the same this weekend.
Last week the team joined the other GTWCE contenders at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium for the traditional two-day test prologue for this season’s Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa – round three of the Endurance Cup campaign which will take place at the end of June.
OQ, Omantel, Oman LNG, Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and BMW Oman supported Al Harthy was pleased with the work completed across the two days in the Ardennes, which has given additional confidence.
Ahmad Al Harthy:
“Monza is such an amazing track, there is so much history, and it’s always a joy to race there so I’m very excited to be back. This will be my first time returning since the incredible win of 2024, I can still feel the exhilaration of that moment and the pride of standing on the top step of the overall podium with the Omani flag flying high. Truly incredible memories!
“The Oman Racing by Century Motorsport guys made a good a start to this season at Paul Ricard, and after a good couple of days testing at Spa last week I know we’re carrying some good confidence into this weekend. We’ll all be putting in maximum effort as always.”
The first track action for the GTWCE runners at Monza will come with the exclusive test session for Bronze graded drivers on May 28, ahead of more testing on May 29, and two free practice periods on May 30. Qualifying is scheduled for 09.50 local time on May 31, with the three-hour race following at 15.30 local time.
Qualifying and the Monza race will be streamed live online at https://www.gt-world-challenge-europe.com/watch-live.
GTWCE Endurance Cup – Bronze Cup Standings (after Rd1)
1. Riccardo Pera/Antares Au/Loek Hartog, 33 pts
(Rutronik Racing/Lamborghini Temerario GT3)
2. Gabriele Piana/Rinat Salikhov/Marvin Dienst, 24 pts
(Winward Racing/Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO)
3. Dries Vanthoor/Darren Leung/James Kellett, 19 pts
(Paradine Competition, BMW M4 GT3 EVO)
4. Kiern Jewiss/Reece Barr/Charles Dawson, 15 pts
(2Seas Motorsport/Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO)
5. Lorenzo Patrese/Dustin Blattner/Dennis Marschall, 12 pts
(Kessel Racing/Ferrari 296 GT3)
6. Ahmad al Harthy/Javier Sagrera/Calan Williams, 9 pts
(Oman Racing by Century Motorsport/BMW M4 GT3 EVO)
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