Dubai 24 Hours 2012

[RoeDent]

No sooner are we into the new year than its time for the endurance crew to come out of hibernation for the first 24-hour race of 2012, the Dubai 24 Hours. And this year, the coverage should have vastly improved due to RLM covering the race, with TV pictures on Motors TV.

(All times GMT; Dubai is 4 hours ahead of GMT)

Thursday 12 January
07:30-08:15 - Free Practice 1
09:15-10:45 - Free Practice 2
11:00-13:30 - Qualifying
14:00-16:00 - Night Practice

Friday 13 January
06:30-07:00 - Warm-up
10:00 - Start of Race

Oh, 24-hour racing, how good to have you back again!

[Porsche917K]

I know it's still a ways away, but any info on live timing? I will be working the day of the race and it's usually the best way for me to keep track. I will search it out myself, but figured it's a good thing to ad to the first post.

[rich07]

Great entrylist, should be a good start to the year.

http://www.24hdubai.com/Provisional-Entry-list

Spotted Sean Edwards in the #3 Black Falcon Mercedes, good luck to him.

[pach233]

Looking forward to this one, great way to start the year off. Who does everyone think the favorites are? Without knowing much about the Saudi drivers I'd say:
1. Schubert, 2. AF Corse, 3. Black Falcon 32. JRM and 36. United Autosport look the strongest on paper with around 5-6 other cars with similar chances.

[scudd]

Go the lambos....

[Oldtony]

Pity yours isn't there Scudd. Next year? You could get it shipped back in time for the B12.

[scudd]

Originally Posted by Oldtony

Pity yours isn't there Scudd. Next year? You could get it shipped back in time for the B12.

That would be a massive ask. 3000 odd k's then no real time to rebuild the car for Bathurst. I'd like to do sepang this year, depends on timing of GT rounds.

[Simmi]

Quite looking forward to this one. Some quality names on an interesting entry list.

Do Eric Lux and Gerard Lopez race often? They would be guys who have the money to get behind a top-flight sportscar team if they chose to.

[J.C.]

Go JRM Nissan GT-R!!!

[AndrewF31]

it should be an interesting race and with good media coverage from MotorsTV and the guys qat RLM. Any idea if the voice over for MotorstV will be RLM?
Too bad the race starts on Friday though but can catch up with it once I get home from work.

[Rodger Davies]

is there likely to be a stream of this does anyone know?

And Jann Mardenborough's Welsh! (I assume)

[miurasvguy]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Quite looking forward to this one. Some quality names on an interesting entry list.

Do Eric Lux and Gerard Lopez race often? They would be guys who have the money to get behind a top-flight sportscar team if they chose to.

Hi Simmi,

I met Gerard Lopez 7 or so years ago in Belgium in the Belcar championship. I believe that he used to race more in the past - at the time he was racing a Viper GT1 with Skype logos on it - he was the original money behind Skype. Actually a serial entrepreneur - and sort of a star in our countries.

Overall nice chap, he owns the F1 team with his partner Eric. In Luxembourg where I work, he is ranked as the second fortune - and has a huge car collection. I understand that they still (with eric Lux) own Gravity racing which used to run in Belcar and won a large number of races with the Mosler. They also have taken over Charouz Racing (ex Aston Martin) and now called Charouz-Gravity which runs 3 SLS GT3 in FIA.

A while ago they made a bid to buy Pescarolo but fell out with some crook who then was stripped of the team.

As I said, the few times I met him (and I was only helping out at MInternational) he was a really nice guy. Once at a test his Viper broke down - and he had booked Spa - the whole track for himself and friends. And he must have taken at least 20 people in hot laps in his Carrera GT - didn't mind and had a good time powersliding that thing around corners. I still have the video somewhere.

I would say no Fernando Alonso obviously, but top bloke and good driver from what I remember. Most importantly hugely passionate. Look at some of the cars OUTSIDE his garage in Luxembourg.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3273753...in/photostream

Pretty secret guy though even though known for F1. He owns three large investment groups in Lux which makes him my hero as he seems to like to spend it too :-D

So the short answer to your question. He could get into GT racing seriously!

[alexkiller8]

this time will be able to run at least for 1 lap the old gallardo jloc?

[morningview66]

My tips would have to be

Schubert 1) Alfaisel, Binladen, Sandstrom, J. Muller, Hurtgen
Black Falcon 3) Al Qubaisi, Edwards, Bleekemolen, Jager
JRM Nissan 32) Krumm, Buncombe, Kimber-Smith, Mailleux

i guess you can't count out
AF Corse 2) Gerber, Griffin, Cioci, Cadei
6) Schneider, Bukk, Frankenhout, Nilsson
16) Schneider, Heyer, Simonsen

i don't really know much about these guys (but they were mentioned by pach233)
United Autosports 36) Potolicchio, Popow, Dalziel

Also how fast Gerard Lopez and Eric Lux are has already been discussed
Gravity) 15 Radermecker, de Sordi, Lux, Lopez, Enge

One final thing i picked up on. Entry 7) the ARC Bratislava – Porsche 997 RSR is this not a GT2 spec car. Is this allowed, is this a typo or is this just me being stupid.

[Speed-King]

I am surprised by how depleted the touring car classes are compared to the GT-ranks. That used to be the other way just a few years around.

In bad eonomic times like these you'd expect the oppossite, wouldn't you?

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

I am surprised by how depleted the touring car classes are compared to the GT-ranks. That used to be the other way just a few years around.

In bad eonomic times like these you'd expect the oppossite, wouldn't you?

Yeah you would expect the opposite and Im surprised too. Hopefully it bodes well for the rest of the year.

BTW Im guessing the ARC 997 RSR has been handicapped to bring it down to GT3 speeds.

I think the JLOC Gallardo will do better then JLOC's efforts with the Murcielago, they seem to have more success with the smaller car in SGT. Does anyone know which Gallardo they are running as I would think that their GT300 car wouldnt be eligible for this.

[DistortedSmile]

Originally Posted by rich07

Yeah you would expect the opposite and Im surprised too. Hopefully it bodes well for the rest of the year.

BTW Im guessing the ARC 997 RSR has been handicapped to bring it down to GT3 speeds.

I think the JLOC Gallardo will do better then JLOC's efforts with the Murcielago, they seem to have more success with the smaller car in SGT. Does anyone know which Gallardo they are running as I would think that their GT300 car wouldnt be eligible for this.

I was under the impression that their current SGT Gallardo was a GT3 spec car.

[Maelochs]

2012 Dunlop Dubai 24



Thursday Jan 12
11:30 –12:12 Practice
13:15–14:45 Practice
15:00–17:30 Qualifying (TV 1615–1730 (1315–1430 CET))
18:00–20:00 Practice (TV 1800–2000 (1500–1700 CET))
Friday Jan 13
10:30–11:00 Warm-up
13:00 Grid (TV 1300–1600 (1000–1300 CET))
14:00 Start (TV2100–0000 (1800–2100 CET))[5 a.m. U.S. ET]


Saturday Jan 14
14:00 End
(TV 0130–0200 (2230–2300 CET))
(TV 1100–1500 (8800–1200 CET))


LIVE RADIO COVERAGE—Radio Le Mans will open the 2012 season with full, live coverage of the Dubai 24 Hours, starting with practice on Thursday. See www.radiolemans.com for details.

LIVE STREAMING AND TIMING—The official website of the Dubai 24 Hours can be found at www.24hdubai.com. From 8th January a special live website will be online at http://live.24hseries.com where you can find live timing and live streaming.

INTERNET—The team from DailySportsCar will be providing free to view updates

[adam46]

The ARC team entered a '997 GT3 RSR' at the Britcar 24 last year but it turned out to be a Supercup-spec car.

[Stephen Green]

The Mercedes were very quick in last years race but their main problem was that they had to refuel twice as often at the AF Corse cars which made for an exciting race (I was there)

[alexkiller8]

Originally Posted by DistortedSmile

I was under the impression that their current SGT Gallardo was a GT3 spec car.

i guess is a gallardo GT3 LP500, they did some modifyies and called them gallardo RG-3

[Porsche917K]

I couldn't find any strong porsche teams... the closest probably being Autorlando Sport, and they are nothing to write home about. That or I just don't know enough about their drivers.

[Speed-King]

I agree, all the Porsche-line-ups seem to be somewhat compromised... Other than Autorlando I would rate the two Fach cars the highest. Ragginger is no slouch and Swen Dolenc had some impressive showings in GT-Masters last year. Not so sure about the other guys, though.

Also surprised no one is bringing a Porsche in GT4, with the new gen-GT4 being a detuned Cup-car they should be plenty reliable.

[Fonzy]

Good to see Max Nilsson appearing in Dubai, he's a great driver but it seems he's a bit under-appreciated. He will be in the Heico SLS with Bernd Schneider / Christian Buhk / Frankenhout.

[Lam Pak]

2 teams from hongkong and a driver from hongkong in top team ( UNIDED AUTOSPORT). very good for this race. maybe know glory in asia.