It was well past midnight, but little did it matter, as exhaustion and tension gave way to excitement and celebrations for Ahmad al Harthy and his Oman Racing Team (ORT) at the dazzling Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE on Friday.
Making its debut in the fifth edition of the Gulf 12 Hours endurance race, the ORT, comprising Ahmad, Darren Turner and Jonny Adam, came up with a display highlighting efficient team work and some smart racing to finish third and clinch a podium finish in the highly-competitive field of 19 teams on the world-class F1 track.
The podium was a perfect way to end the year for Ahmad, who is celebrating his tenth year in competitive racing. ORT's debut campaign at the Gulf 12 Hours got off to a perfect start as the trio claimed a pole in the qualifying races on Thursday in the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 car.
On Friday, ORT fought hard in both sessions, comprising six hours each, against top teams from Mercedes, Ferrari and Porsche manufacturers. In the end, the Kessel Racing Ferrari team of Davide Rigon, Andrea Piccini and Michael Broniszewski claimed the title.
The Black Falcon team of Yelmer Buurman, Abdulaziz al Faisal and Hubert Haupt in Mercedes came a close second in the race, which ended in an anti-climax when a crash brought out the red light and the ultimately chequered flags, with eight minutes to go for the finish.
The Ferrari was 24.253 seconds clear of the Mercedes and ORT was nearly 70 seconds behind the winner.
Speaking to Muscat Daily after the podium finish, Ahmad said, “It is really a proud moment as I worked hard for the past six months to compete in this event under the ORT banner. To get the full set-up of ORT Motorbase Performance team from UK here for the first time was a big challenge. And to cap my year off with a podium finish, it certainly is the best way to end my year.”
“It was a very tough race that tested the drivers’ skill, stamina and nerves to the limit. To remain focussed during the 12 hours race is a demanding task. I am extremely proud of my teammates, Danny [Turner] and Jonny [Adam], who worked so hard to ensure a podium on our debut,” said the 34 year old Muscat-based driver.
Ahmad was delighted that a good number of his fans turned up to watch the race. “To race here feels like competing on my home soil. I always have a strong desire to compete in a top-class race in the Middle East and, now, to have done it and get a trophy in front of my fans, it is just amazing. I am overwhelmed by their support.”
Ahmad, who earlier in the season, won the Silver Cup honours at the British GT Championship, 'dedicated the achievement to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on the 45th National Day.'
“Without the support of His Majesty and the government, it would have been impossible to reach so far,”he said.
On the track, Adam began the opening stint of the race and concluded the first hour in third position. Ahmad took over in hour two and maintained the top three placing. He finished at third place but after Turner's session, the team ended the first session at fourth place.
In the second session, held under the floodlights, Turner took the first stint and stayed well within reach of the podium placings as he climbed to third. Ahmad succeeded after and maintained the third place despite safety car coming into the race. Adam was on the wheels in the final stages when racing was called off minutes before following a crash.
