Sunday 15 / December / 2024
Barcelona: Spain’s Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosts the fourth race of the 2022 European Le Mans Series this Sunday, 28th August, where Ahmad Al Harthy is hopeful he and the Oman Racing team can get their LMGTE championship bid back on track.
Oman’s Al Harthy, who is partnered by Sam De Haan and Marco Sorensen for his maiden season in the ELMS, is already an LMGTE race winner – from round two at Imola in Italy – but last time out at Monza the squad had to contend with an extremely negative Balance of Performance grading, which ruined any opportunity to be competitive.
Fighting as hard as possible, and driving perfectly with a bullet proof strategy, the Oman Racing trio could still only rescue a ninth place finish in the Monza four-hour race with the No.69 Aston Martin Vantage GTE completely hamstrung.
Now, Al Harthy – who is supported by prestigious partners Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, OQ, Omantel and MHD-ITICS – says a podium return at the very least is the target, if the BOP ruling for Barcelona is less draconian.
“Monza was a very tough weekend, we just didn’t have the power to compete due to the severity of the BOP so we’re hopeful we’ll be on a much more level playing field this weekend in Barcelona and able to challenge for the podium”, he commented, “That’s what we’re all here for, to race as hard as we can for trophies, wins and, ultimately, a championship.
“Everyone at Oman Racing has done an amazing job all season in our first year in the European Le Mans Series, the team has worked so hard and I was so impressed with how all three of us – Sam, Marco and I – drove at Monza despite how demoralising it was. We obviously lost the championship lead but we’re determined to get it back and will be giving everything as we always do.”
Barcelona is a track where Al Harthy has enjoyed strong success in the past with Oman Racing, not least last year’s Pro-Am podium finish in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup race which the sportsman dedicated to the people of Oman in the aftermath of tropical cyclone Shaheen.
In 2019 he was second in Pro-Am during the memorable GTWCE season finale in Barcelona, the Omani’s fifth straight podium from five races which also helped to wrap-up his and Oman Racing’s second Pro-Am title in the Endurance Cup after a sparkling campaign.
Looking ahead to this weekend’s ELMS action, opening free practice at Barcelona will get underway at 11.00 local time on Friday, 26th August, with a standalone session for ‘Bronze’ graded drivers following at 15.30. Second free practice will take place at 11.10 local time on Saturday, 27th August, ahead of the LMGTE qualifying session at 15.45.
