Muscat, Feb 27
Oman motor racing sensation Ahmad al Harthy announced on Sunday his return to action in 2023 with a high-profile FIA World Endurance Championship. Al Harthy unveiled his 2023 season in a glittering event at the Oman Automobile Association (OAA) headquarters in Seeb in presence of dignitaries, sponsors and media persons.
Al Harthy proudly stated that he is delighted with this dream move to FIA World Endurance.
“Oman Racing team will debut in world class endurance event in GTE Am. It will be the biggest challenge of my career but one I am absolutely relishing alongside my very capable team-mates Eastwood Charlie and Dinan Michael. There are new circuits for me to learn and plenty of new competition, I can’t wait to get started! I have to say the biggest thank you to my incredible sponsors for their support, none of this would be possible without them, and also to everyone at the Oman Automobile Association for our launch event and their support as well,” Al Harthy said.
The double Pro-Am Class champion and multiple race winner in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup will compete for first time in a new racing tracks including USA and Japan. The prestigious championship will begin with the Official Prologue test days at Sebring in the USA on March 11 and 12 while the opening race of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship season – the 1,000 miles of Sebring – will be contested on March 17 at the renowned Florida track for eight hours duration.
Later, Al Harthy and his teammates will travel to Portugal when the championship will take place in Portimao in Portugual on April 16 for four hours race. Then, Spa-Francorchamps competitions will be held in Belgium on April 29 before endurance racing’s crown jewel event, the Le Mans 24 Hours in France, over the weekend on June 10 and 11 – Al Harthy’s debut in the legendary classic.
In July, the high portfolio championship will visit Monza in Italy for six hours race while the penultimate race of the season will be at Fuji in Japan in September as a new challenging experience for Ahmad and the championship will conclude in the Middle East on November 4 at Bahrain International Circuit.
“After several attendance and competition at a very high level in endurance racing for a decade and representing Oman proudly with some amazing success in many race wins, podiums and championship victories too, we are starting a new challenge. The Oman Racing Team is shifting focus to the pinnacle in FIA World Endurance, the top rung on the ladder, and I am more determined than ever to fly the flag high for Oman,” Al Harthy concluded.
The highly competitive trio will share the No 25 Aston Martin GTE in the GTE Am class of FIA World Endurance, the only class for production-based cars in the prestigious championship – which will feature a total of 38 entries across all three of its classes this season. Notably, 2023 marks the 110th anniversary of the world-famous Aston Martin marque.
Importantly, Al Harthy retains his incredibly supportive and very high-profile portfolio of sponsors for the coming season at world level, namely the Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, OQ, Omantel and MHD-ITICS.
WHAT THEY SAID
Ashraf bin Hamed al Maamari – Chief Executive People, Technology and Culture, OQ:
“Our commitment to supporting the best Omani talents means we are delighted to continue our support of Ahmad and the Oman Racing team. This is reflected in the unwavering commitment of OQ, the Global Integrated Energy Group, towards excellence, aiming high and achieving success on international stages within integrated energy. So the synergy with Oman Racing is evident as we all strive to be the very best we can.”
Saba bint Said al Busaidiyah – Senior Manager Corporate Affairs, Omantel:
“Once again Omantel is extremely proud to partner with Ahmad and Oman Racing for the new season and we are very much looking forward to an exciting year as part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. We have enjoyed a highly successful and rewarding partnership with Ahmad throughout his career, we are delighted to continue being a key partner at this exciting time.”
Lujaina Mohsin Darwish – Chairperson, MHD-ITICS:
“MHD-ITICS is extremely proud of its association with Ahmad al Harthy as our Brand Ambassador. The Omani racing icon has raised the National Flag high at various international podiums in motorsports, we wish him all the very best as he takes up yet another new challenge this year at World Championship level. Our partnership is a testament to our unwavering faith in his abilities and our shared values, and this partnership has definitely helped us showcase and promote our brand 0 not just in Oman, but internationally.”
Brigadier Jamal al Ta’ei – Vice-Chairman of the Oman Automobile Association:
“On behalf of the Oman Automobile Association, I would like to say how very proud we are to have been central to the official launch of Ahmad and Oman Racing’s 2023 motor racing programme. It is going to be a huge year for Ahmad with the step-up into the World Championship, we are delighted to be supporting him as he takes on the very best competition in the world.”
2023 FIA World Endurance Championship Calendar
Prologue – March 11/12 – Sebring, USA
Rd1 – March 17 – Sebring, USA (1000 miles)
Rd2 – April 16 – Portimao, Portugal (6hrs)
Rd3 – April 29 – Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium (6hrs)
Rd4 – June 10/11– Le Mans, France (24hrs)
Rd5 – July 9 – Monza, Italy (6hrs)
Rd6 – September 10 – Fuji, Japan (6hrs)
Rd7 – November 4 – Sakhir, Bahrain (8hrs)
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