Gulf 12 Hours 2021

[Bcarr6]

Gulf 12 Hours has moved back from December 2020, to 8-10th January 2021, to be followed straight on by the 24 Hours of Dubai by the 24H Series a week later, and their new 6 Hour event at Abu Dhabi the week following that. This makes for an interesting mini winter season of events for European team, meaning the filled entry for all three events is already looking pretty interesting.

The Gulf 12 Hour will again be split into a two part race, with a 34 car grid currently confirmed, 22 of which are GT3 which they have announced today. Supposedly this is a self imposed limit, to allow for 12 GT4/Lamborghini Trofeo cars, but if that 12 isnt filled then there are GT3 entries in reserve.

[Bcarr6]

Entry so far, only GT3 confirmed, and as far as I know only one actual lineup announced, although you can probably take a good guess and some of the names in Balfe, Ram, Optimum, Kessel, M-Sport etc.

Should be a really strong entry in GT3, Kessel, M-Sport, 2 Seas, Dinamic, GPX, the list goes on.

GT3 Class - 22 Cars

2 Seas Motorsport - Mclaren 720s GT3 - Ben Barnicoat / Martin Kodric / Isa Al Khalifa
2 Seas Motorsport - Mclaren 720s GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
3Y Technology - BMW M6 GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
AF Corse - Ferrari 488 GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
AF Corse - Ferrari 488 GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
AKKA ASP - Mercedes AMG GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
Balfe Motorsport - Mclaren 720s GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
Car Collection Motorsport - Audi R8 LMS GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
Dinamic Motorsport - Porsche 911 GT3 R - TBA / TBA / TBA
Dinamic Motorsport - Porsche 911 GT3 R - TBA / TBA / TBA
GPX Racing - Porsche 911 GT3 R - TBA / TBA / TBA
Haupt Racing Team - Mercedes AMG GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
Haupt Racing Team - Mercedes AMG GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
HTP-Winward Motorsport - Mercedes AMG GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
Kessel Racing - Ferrari 488 GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
Kessel Racing - Ferrari 488 GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
Kessel Racing - Ferrari 488 GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
M-Sport Bentley - Bentley Continental GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
Optimum Motorsport - Mclaren 720s GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
Team Parker Racing - Bentley Continental GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
Ram Racing - Mercedes AMG GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA
Spirit Race Team Use Alzen Automotive - Audi R8 LMS GT3 - TBA / TBA / TBA

[gert]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

Entry so far, only GT3 confirmed, and as far as I know only one actual lineup announced, although you can probably take a good guess and some of the names in Balfe, Ram, Optimum, Kessel, M-Sport etc.

Endurance-Info has Balfe-Proctor-Proctor listed as drivers for the Balfe McLaren

https://www.endurance-info.com/fr/12...aren-720s-gt3/

[WyldStallion]

No LMP3 cars anymore?

[Marcel ten Caat]

Only GT3, GT4 and Lamborghini Super Trofeo. Makes more sense to have GT only instead of having a couple of LMP3s just to boost the grid a bit.

Plus, the United Autosports LMP3s will race at Daytona.

[WyldStallion]

Originally Posted by Marcel ten Caat

Only GT3, GT4 and Lamborghini Super Trofeo. Makes more sense to have GT only instead of having a couple of LMP3s just to boost the grid a bit.

Plus, the United Autosports LMP3s will race at Daytona.

Thought there more than handful of P3s running in the past. But maybe the new P3's are less compatible than GT3 cars in terms of speed now anyway now? I don't think even the new P3s are that much quicker. I bet a GT3 car with a pro can still match an "am" in a 2020 spec P3 car just fine. Plus GT cars go further on fuel perhaps by 20-30% each stink. I don't think a P3 ever wont the Gulf 12 overall. GT3 always took it.

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by WyldStallion

Thought there more than handful of P3s running in the past. But maybe the new P3's are less compatible than GT3 cars in terms of speed now anyway now? I don't think even the new P3s are that much quicker. I bet a GT3 car with a pro can still match an "am" in a 2020 spec P3 car just fine. Plus GT cars go further on fuel perhaps by 20-30% each stink. I don't think a P3 ever wont the Gulf 12 overall. GT3 always took it.

If I remember rightly they pit stop balanced the P3’s away from being able to win

[Marcel ten Caat]

2019 had two prototypes, 2018 there were four. And Andrea Ficarelli has always made it clear GT3 has priority.

[WyldStallion]

Originally Posted by Marcel ten Caat

2019 had two prototypes, 2018 there were four. And Andrea Ficarelli has always made it clear GT3 has priority.

Mr. Ficarelli is a smart man. Hopefully Mr. Doonan at Imsa thinks the same way when discussing P3 vs GTLM.

[gert]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

If I remember rightly they pit stop balanced the P3’s away from being able to win

Yes i believe so too.

Both in LMS and Le Mans Cup a well-drive GT-car can make it difficult for an LMP3 but in the end the LMP3s always win.

[WyldStallion]

Originally Posted by gert

Yes i believe so too.

Both in LMS and Le Mans Cup a well-drive GT-car can make it difficult for an LMP3 but in the end the LMP3s always win.

Same situation for the IMSA Le Mans encore. GTD cars always took overall lead when LMP3 cars pitted. But the safety car periods stacked the deck and always lined P3 cars ahead automatically on the restarts. P3 cars were faster overall but never quick enough to not fall behind GTD cars when they pitted. Probably had less fuel capacity too. WSC and GT1 had the same dynamic back in the 1998 season. Only once did a GT1 car win overall that year (bummer on that one). Ultimately cause the top WSC car (usually the Dyson R&S) was just a bit too fast. Lots of 2nd and 3rd overall place finishes for the Panoz and Porsche Gt1 though....anyway back to the topic of the Gulf 12.....

[tux]

Impressive entry list to be fair. Maybe they should add this event to the IGTC World challenge Blancpain thing or whatever they call it today.