FIA World Endurance Championship: Oman’s Ahmad Al Harthy Secures P8 Start in Qatar

Omani racer Ahmad Al Harthy, alongside teammates Valentino Rossi and Kelvin van der Linde, will begin the opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) from eighth place on the grid at Lusail International Circuit in Qatar.

Strong Qualifying Performance for Team WRT

DOHA: Team WRT put up an impressive performance during the qualifying session for the FIA WEC season opener in Qatar, securing eighth place for today’s 10-hour endurance race, the Qatar 1812km.

Driving the No.46 BMW M4 LMGT3, Al Harthy kicked off the first 15-minute qualifying session on Thursday, February 27, with an initial flying lap of 1m56.473s, placing him inside the top four at that stage.

The Omani driver continued to improve, clocking 1m55.998s on his next lap before shaving off a few more milliseconds to achieve a best time of 1m55.949s, securing a place in the Hyperpole session.

In the final 10-minute Hyperpole run, Valentino Rossi took over the wheel and delivered a strong lap time of 1m54.989s, placing the team in eighth position on the starting grid. Notably, their car was the fastest BMW entry in the LMGT3 class and finished just half a second behind the front row.

Focus on a Strong Race Strategy

With a solid qualifying result, Al Harthy, Rossi, and new teammate Kelvin van der Linde are now focused on making steady progress during the endurance race and maximizing their points haul.

The team utilized free practice sessions on February 26 and 27 at Lusail International Circuit to fine-tune their race setup, and Al Harthy is optimistic that their preparations will yield positive results when the race begins.

Representing Oman on the Global Stage

Al Harthy is backed by key sponsors, including OQ Group, Sohar International, Omantel, BMW Oman, Oman’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and Experience Oman. He expressed his excitement about representing Oman in the prestigious FIA WEC and is determined to deliver a strong performance for fans both at the track and around the world.

Al Harthy’s Reaction

“I’m absolutely delighted that we made it into the top 10 and secured a spot in Hyperpole. P8 is a strong place to start the opening race of the FIA WEC season,” said Al Harthy.

“I pushed hard during my session, and Vale (Rossi) did a fantastic job in Hyperpole. Now, our focus is on making a strong start in the race and maintaining consistency throughout the 10-hour challenge.

“The entire team has done an incredible job so far. Endurance racing is about strategy, patience, and execution, so we’ll be aiming for a solid result at the chequered flag.”

With their sights set on a competitive finish, Al Harthy and his teammates are prepared to take on the grueling 10-hour race in what promises to be an exciting start to the FIA WEC season.

For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Instagram, like us on Facebook & subscribe to our YouTube Channel, which is updated daily.