Latest news with #2025GTWorldChallengeEuropeEnduranceCup
Muscat Daily
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Muscat Daily
Al Zubair leads Al-Manar to Gold Cup victory at Monza
Monza– Al Faisal al Zubair and his Al Manar Racing by Team WRT teammates Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck secured a Gold Cup class win and finished fourth overall in the second round of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup powered by AWS at Monza on Sunday. In their BMW M4 GT3 EVO, the team executed a well-timed pit stop strategy to climb from seventh on the grid to take top honours in the Gold Cup. The race, interrupted several times by yellow flags, tested the drivers' consistency and composure across three hours of endurance racing. Al Zubair, who took the opening stint, navigated a competitive field and maintained pressure during the early phases of the race. 'I'm happy to clinch the win in the Gold Cup Category,' said Al Zubair. 'Honestly, this is a dream come true. Especially because we started the race from seventh on the grid. But the strategy from Team WRT was excellent.' He added, 'We had the speed throughout the weekend, but in qualifying we faced some issues, particularly in Q3. Fourth position in the overall classification and winning the Gold Cup category, this was fantastic. I'm very proud to raise the Omani flag high. We are aiming to achieve even more.' The GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup will resume with the prestigious Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa from June 25 to 29.
Observer
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Observer
Al Zubair gears up with Al Manar Racing by Team WRT
MUSCAT: The trio of Al Manar Racing by Team WRT — Al Faisal al Zubair, Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck — are all geared up to take on the challenge in Italy for this weekend's second round of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup powered by AWS at the legendary Monza circuit. The trio, Al Zubair from Oman, Klingmann from Germany and Tuck from Britain, finished on the podium at the opening round at France's Paul Ricard in their BMW M4 GT3 EVO and are hoping for another top-class performance in this weekend's three-hour race that features a third mandatory pit stop. Klingmann was the overall winner of the race last year and he and Al Zubair have already arrived in Italy fresh from their double podium success in the recent Sprint races at Zandvoort in the Netherlands recently. The Monza race weekend has attracted a massive 59-car field across the various classes with the Al Manar Racing by Team WRT trio lining up against nine rivals in the Gold Cup category. The trio, Al Zubair from Oman, Klingmann from Germany and Tuck from Britain, finished on the podium at the opening round The opening round was won by the CSA Racing McLaren crew of Arthur Rougier, James Kell and Simon Gachet and they will be aiming to defend their series lead against the likes of the second-placed Racing Aston Martin, the Garage 59, Optimum Motorsport and Team RJN McLarens, the Tresor Attempto Racing Audi, the Paul Motorsport Lamborghini, Nordique Racing's Mercedes-AMG and Herberth Motorsport's Porsche. Ahead of the race, talented Omani racer Al Zubair said: 'This will be the second round of the Endurance Championship, which I am really looking forward to. I really enjoy Monza. Unfortunately, we didn't finish the race last year because of a collision. We are hoping to have a much better result this time. 'Luckily, I think the BMW is more suited to Monza than the Mercedes. That should be of benefit to us. We are currently second in the championship, overall Sprint and Endurance. So, hopefully, we can have a strong weekend, score solid points and keep up the fight for the championship.' Al Zubair have already arrived in Italy fresh from their double podium success in the recent Sprint races at Zandvoort in the Netherlands recently The GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup powered by AWS shares the circuit this weekend with the Lamborghini Super Trofeo and McLaren Trophy Europe. Test sessions will be available on Friday but the first official two-hour practice session is scheduled for Saturday (May 31) from 10.10hrs. Pre-qualifying will then take place from 15.30hrs. An hour of crucial qualifying will get underway on Sunday (June 1) morning from 09.50hrs and the three-hour race fires into life at 15.00hrs.
Muscat Daily
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Muscat Daily
Oman's Al Zubair gears up for Monza with Al Manar Racing by Team WRT
Muscat – The trio of Al Manar Racing by Team WRT – Al Faisal al Zubair, Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck – are all geared up to take on the challenge in Italy for this weekend's second round of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup powered by AWS at the legendary Monza circuit. The trio, Al Zubair from Oman, Klingmann from Germany and Tuck from Britain, finished on the podium at the opening round at France's Paul Ricard in their BMW M4 GT3 EVO and are hoping for another top-class performance in this weekend's three-hour race that features a third mandatory pit stop. Klingmann was the overall winner of the race last year and he and Al Zubair have already arrived in Italy fresh from their double podium success in the recent Sprint races at Zandvoort in the Netherlands recently. The Monza race weekend has attracted a massive 59-car field across the various classes with the Al Manar Racing by Team WRT trio lining up against nine rivals in the Gold Cup category. The opening round was won by the CSA Racing McLaren crew of Arthur Rougier, James Kell and Simon Gachet and they will be aiming to defend their series lead against the likes of the second-placed Racing Aston Martin, the Garage 59, Optimum Motorsport and Team RJN McLarens, the Tresor Attempto Racing Audi, the Paul Motorsport Lamborghini, Nordique Racing's Mercedes-AMG and Herberth Motorsport's Porsche. Ahead of the race, talented Omani racer Al Zubair said: 'This will be the second round of the Endurance Championship, which I am really looking forward to. I really enjoy Monza. Unfortunately, we didn't finish the race last year because of a collision. We are hoping to have a much better result this time. 'Luckily, I think the BMW is more suited to Monza than the Mercedes. That should be of benefit to us. We are currently second in the championship, overall Sprint and Endurance. So, hopefully, we can have a strong weekend, score solid points and keep up the fight for the championship.' The GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup powered by AWS shares the circuit this weekend with the Lamborghini Super Trofeo and McLaren Trophy Europe. Test sessions will be available on Friday but the first official two-hour practice session is scheduled for Saturday (May 31) from 10.10hrs. Pre-qualifying will then take place from 15.30hrs. An hour of crucial qualifying will get underway on Sunday (June 1) morning from 09.50hrs and the three-hour race fires into life at 15.00hrs.
Muscat Daily
13-04-2025
- Automotive
- Muscat Daily
Al Zubair flies Omani flag high at Paul Ricard
Paul Ricard, France – Al Faisal al Zubair made a strong start to the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup powered by AWS, proudly raising the Omani flag on the podium after securing third place in the Gold Cup category and an impressive 10th overall at the six-hour season opener at Paul Ricard. Racing with Al Manar Racing by Team WRT, Al Faisal, alongside teammates Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck, delivered a standout performance that sets the tone for a strong season ahead. After qualifying their BMW M4 GT3 EVO in sixth place, the trio gradually moved through the field and looked set to finish second until Racing's Harry King made a late pass on the BMW and snatched the runner-up spot behind the triumphant CSA Racing McLaren of Arthur Rougier, James Kell and Simon Gachet. Al Zubair said: 'I'm proud to raise Oman's flag on the podium again. I think finishing 10th overall and third in class on our first time together in GT World Challenge Europe is something we should be proud of. I am happy with how the car performed. We struggled quite a bit in qualifying, but making it into the top 10 and being the third BMW to finish is great. It's a good sign for the rest of the season. Thanks to the team!' The Garage 59 McLaren hit the front of the overall race heading into the second hour and Ben Tuck retained sixth place and was running around a lap behind the leading driver Dean McDonald. Al Manar Racing by Team WRT climbed to fifth soon after and maintained fifth through the 2.5-hour mark. The Garage 59 McLaren continued to lead the Gold Cup category into three and a half hours of the race, but had slipped to fourth in the overall classification, as the Al Manar Racing by Team WRT BMW remained in fifth. The leading McLaren hit trouble in the next segment and, with 90 minutes of the race to run, the CSA Racing McLaren led the Gold Cup category and canny strategies had seen Tuck, Klingmann and Al-Zubair climb to second place. With 30 minutes of the race remaining, Al Manar Racing by Team WRT retained second place only to be overtaken late on by the Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO. Al Manar Racing by Team WRT now switches its attention to the opening round of the Sprint series at Brands Hatch in England on May 3rd-4th.
Times of Oman
13-04-2025
- Automotive
- Times of Oman
Al Zubair flies Omani flag high with podium finish at Paul Ricard
Paul Ricard (France): Al Faisal Al Zubair made a strong start to the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup powered by AWS, proudly raising the Omani flag on the podium after securing third place in the Gold Cup category and an impressive 10th overall at the six-hour season opener at Paul Ricard. Racing with Al Manar Racing by Team WRT, Al Faisal, alongside teammates Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck, delivered a standout performance that sets the tone for a strong season ahead. After qualifying their BMW M4 GT3 EVO in sixth place, the trio gradually moved through the field and looked set to finish second until Racing's Harry King made a late pass on the BMW and snatched the runner-up spot behind the triumphant CSA Racing McLaren of Arthur Rougier, James Kell and Simon Gachet. Al-Zubair said: 'I'm proud to raise Oman's flag on the podium again. I think finishing 10th overall and third in class on our first time together in GT World Challenge Europe is something we should be proud of. I am happy with how the car performed. We struggled quite a bit in qualifying, but making it into the top 10 and being the third BMW to finish is great. It's a good sign for the rest of the season. Thanks to the team!' The Garage 59 McLaren hit the front of the overall race heading into the second hour and Ben Tuck retained sixth place and was running around a lap behind the leading driver Dean McDonald. Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT climbed to fifth soon after and maintained fifth through the 2.5-hour mark. The Garage 59 McLaren continued to lead the Gold Cup category into three and a half hours of the race, but had slipped to fourth in the overall classification, as the Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT BMW remained in fifth. The leading McLaren hit trouble in the next segment and, with 90 minutes of the race to run, the CSA Racing McLaren led the Gold Cup category and canny strategies had seen Tuck, Klingmann and Al-Zubair climb to second place. With 30 minutes of the race remaining, Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT retained second place only to be overtaken late on by the Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO. The Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT trio used the free practice session on Friday morning to shakedown the BMW with Klingmann setting the best lap of 1min 54.889sec in dry conditions. That put the team just 0.470 seconds off the fastest Gold Cup lap time set by the Garage 59 McLaren. After a short pre-qualifying session on Friday evening, attention turned to the all-important qualifying stints on Saturday morning. With the three qualifying sessions combined, pole position in the Gold Cup category went to Adam Smalley, Dean McDonald and Louise Prette in the Garage 69 McLaren with an average qualifying lap of 1min 54.102sec. Al-Zubair, Klingmann and Tuck qualified the BMW M4 in sixth place with a best average time of 1min 54.682sec, their best tour of 1min 54.110sec coming in Q3. Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT now switches its attention to the opening round of the Sprint series at Brands Hatch in England on May 3rd-4th.
