Brazil: FIA World Endurance Championship racer Ahmad Al Harthy will imminently arrive in South America for the first time in his motor racing career, as the Omani prepares to resume his 2024 campaign at the famous Interlagos circuit in Brazil – the Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paulo.
Round five of the FIA WEC season this weekend, 13th/14th July, brings an entirely new challenge for the Omani who is determined to get his championship back-on-track with Team WRT team-mates Maxime Martin and Valentino Rossi.
While there has been disappointment over the past couple of FIA WEC events, retirements at both Spa-Francorchamps and in the 24 hours of Le Mans, Al Harthy’s positivity and focus is perhaps greater than ever as he strives to mount a major challenge in the No.46 BMW M4 LMGT3.
Prior to the aforementioned frustrations in rounds three and four, Al Harthy, Martin and Rossi had celebrated their maiden LMGT3 podium finish at the 6 Hours of Imola in late April with a fantastic run to second position. In the season curtain-raiser in Qatar, the squad raced to fourth position.
Following the Imola event, the trio held fourth in the LMGT3 standings, underlining the strong start to the 2024 campaign which had been made. Indeed, this showed the true level of performance and competitiveness of the squad and the chief aim is to return to that and deliver the same over the remaining four race meetings of the season – beginning this weekend in Brazil.
Practice at Intergalos gets underway on Friday, 12th July, and so there will be plenty to learn for the second-year FIA WEC racer as he tackles the 4.3-kilometre track – home, of course, to the Brazilian Grand Prix since the 1970s – for the first time.
Ahmad Al Harthy:
“It’s a very exciting prospect to be visiting and racing in Brazil for the first time. Interlagos is a fantastic track with a lot of history, and it’s going to be amazing to drive there for the first time. We’re all determined to be back challenging for the podium, we’ve had two unfortunate weekends in FIA WEC over the last couple of events so we’re all focused on turning that around.
“There’s a lot to learn being a new track for me, but I’m confident we can hit the ground running and the important thing is to ensure we have the best car we can for the race. Qualifying is always very important, and we’ve done a good job there so far, but we need to have the speed and consistency to compete in, what will be, a very challenging race. I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Opening practice in Sao Paolo will get underway at 10.45 local time on Friday, 12th July, with the second session following at 15.15. On Saturday, 13th July, session three will begin at 10.30 local time ahead of qualifying at 14.30. The Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paolo is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 14th July, with the big race starting at 11.30 local time.
FIA World Endurance Championship LMGT3 Driver Standings
1st Yasser Shahin / Morris Schuring / Richard Lietz, 75pts
2nd Klaus Bachler / Alex Malykhin / Joel Sturm, 75pts
3rd Darren Leung / Sean Gelael / Augusto Farfus, 73pts
4th Marco Sorensen / Erwan Bastard, 42pts
5th Francois Heriau / Simon Mann / Alessio Rovera, 41pts
9th Ahmad Al Harthy / Maxime Martin / Valentino Rossi, 36pts
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