· Partnership agreement signed between Lenovo and the Gulf 12 Hours race for GT3 sportscars.
· The Lenovo Gulf 12 Hours to take place on December 8-10, 2023 at the iconic Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Abu Dhabi – December 6, 2023 – Lenovo and the Gulf 12 Hours have set up a partnership agreement that will see Lenovo become the title partner of the Gulf 12 Hours race.
The 2023 edition will be known as the Lenovo Gulf 12 Hours. It will feature prominent Lenovo branding displayed extensively around Yas Marina Circuit and on the competing cars, which include representatives of the world’s leading sportscar manufacturers. An exciting field of GT3 cars – based on roadgoing sportscars enhanced for safety and performance –from Audi, BMW, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche will line up on the circuit hosting the Formula 1® Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for a race that runs into the night.
In addition to honors for overall and class winners, a new trophy will be awarded at the Lenovo Gulf 12 Hours. The Lenovo Best Team Award will acknowledge the team with standout spirit and determination.
The Lenovo brand will reach a global audience of passionate motorsport fans watching champion drivers, including MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, connecting with spectators at Yas Marina Circuit via dedicated activations and online streaming platforms.
More details about the Lenovo Gulf 12 Hours can be found at www.gulf12hours.com.
Andrea Ficarelli, founder of the Gulf 12 Hours, said, “This partnership represents a step forward for our race, now a classic in the Middle East and the very last fixture of the year for GT fans worldwide after an intense season of motorsport action. We are thrilled to work with Lenovo to bring motorsport fans another opportunity to enjoy 12 hours of adrenaline, involving top drivers and incredible cars from the world’s leading manufacturers on track or via our YouTube Live.”
Alberto Spinelli, Chief Marketing Officer for Lenovo Europe, Middle East, Africa, added, “Our commitment to motorsport races is part of our company DNA. While MotoGP and Formula 1 are the pinnacle of racing, in GT events endurance and speed merge. The Gulf 12 Hours is an iconic event in the Middle East and Africa region, and we are excited to be part of this initiative.”
Celeste Gibbens, Marketing Director, Middle East & Africa, Lenovo, provided the local view on this partnership, “Racing on the incredible Yas Marina Circuit is an incredible experience for drivers and fans. Memorable pages of racing history have been written on this track recently. We proudly support the Lenovo Gulf 12 Hours and celebrate with the passionate GT racing fan community worldwide. We expect to deliver a fantastic race, showcasing a passion for driving Audis, BMWs, Ferraris, McLarens, Mercedes, and Porsches over 12 intense hours.”
The Gulf 12 Hours has established itself as a benchmark for GT motorsport events in the Arabian Gulf region since its launch in 2012, with its regular end-of-year date at its traditional home of Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Lenovo joins a roster of existing blue-chip partners, including tire manufacturer Pirelli and global transport provider DSV at the Gulf 12 Hours.
About Lenovo:
Lenovo is a US$62 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #217 in the Fortune Global 500, employing 77,000 people around the world, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company by further expanding into growth areas that fuel the advancement of ‘New IT’ technologies (client, edge, cloud, network, and intelligence) including server, storage, mobile, software, solutions, and services. This transformation together with Lenovo’s world-changing innovation is building a more inclusive, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992)(ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.
About the Gulf 12 Hours:
The Gulf 12 Hours is a race exclusively for GT-type sportscars which takes place annually in Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit, venue for the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. A field of around 30 cars competes for overall honours, as well within the Pro-Am and Am categories which allow non-professional drivers to participate as equals alongside top professional racers. Teams from across the world, representing the world’s leading sportscar manufacturers, enter cars shared by three or four drivers, each completing stints alone behind the wheel. Originally, the Gulf 12 Hours was contested over two separate six-hour races on the same day, but since 2022, the race takes place over 12 continuous hours, starting in the daytime and ending at night. The Gulf 12 Hours was launched by promoter Driving Force Events in 2012 and has established itself as a benchmark for GT motorsport events in the Arabian Gulf region. Yas Marina Circuit has become the event’s traditional home and has hosted 11 of the 12 editions, with Bahrain International Circuit holding a one-off running of the race in 2021. In 2023, the Gulf 12 Hours Powered by Lenovo will take place on 10 December, while the new Winter Masters 500 race at Autodromo Internacional do Algarve on 3 February, also owned and promoted by Driving Force Events.
