Audi won the Lenovo Gulf 12 Hours after an intense contest at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi brought the curtain down on the 2024 endurance racing season, with the drama continuing even after the chequered flag.
Optimum Racing crossed the line first, but Todd Coleman, Aaron Telitz and Frederik Schandorff were handed two post-race 30-second penalties for speeding in the pit lane in the #69 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO. That dropped the crew to second place.
Saintéloc Racing therefore took Audi’s second victory in the Gulf 12 Hours. Gilles Magnus, Dennis Marschall and Bihuang Zhou had led until the final hour and initially finished just 4.127secs behind but they were promoted to overall victory.
The unique two-part race featured an initial eight-hour race followed by a four-hour contest after a 120-minute break, with close competition throughout the grid.
Proton Huber Competition made it three manufacturers in the top three positions, with third in its Porsche 992 GT3R with Sven Müller, Sergey Stolyarov and Sergei Borisov at the wheel.
A close Pro-Am race saw McLarens, Ferraris and an Audi locked in an intense battle for the full 12 hours. The #8 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO of Alexander West, Philippe Prette, Louis Prette and Adam Smalley won the class and finished fourth overall. Saintéloc Racing’s #26 Audi R8 GT3 LMS EVO II was second in Pro-Am, and Kessel Racing’s Ferrari 296 GT3 third.
Herberth Motorsport’s Porsche 911 GT3R (992) overcame early drama to win the Am category. After starting on the overall pole position, a first-lap puncture dropped it to the back, but Ralf Bohn, Alfred Renauer and Dustin Blattner fought back impressively. Haas RT was second in Am with its Audi R8 GT3 LMS EVO II while MP Motorsport, with its line-up of father Thomas Gostner and his children Manuela, Corinna and David, were third in their Mercedes AMG GT3.
In the new Porsche GT Cup class, QMMF by HRT Performance delivered a masterclass with its #91 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup. Starting from class pole, Ghanim Salah Al-Madheed, Ibrahim Ali Al-Abdulghani, Abdulla Ali Al-Khelaifi and Julian Hanses dominated. The #92 HRT Performance and #92 Toro Verde GT completed the class podium.