Latest news with #AhmadAlHarthy
Times of Oman
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Times of Oman
Al Harthy's Team WRT battles to points finish in Sao Paulo
Muscat: Ahmad Al Harthy and Team WRT returned to the FIA World Endurance Championship points at Interlagos circuit in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo on Sunday, after delivering a determined and tactically sharp performance in the Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paulo – round five of the 2025 season. Driving alongside team-mates Valentino Rossi and Kelvin van der Linde, Al Harthy's Team WRT overcame a tough start to the Brazilian weekend to finish 10th in the LMGT3 class, securing a valuable championship point and finishing as the top BMW entry in the race. The Omani, proudly backed by OQ Group, Sohar International, Omantel, Oman LNG, BMW Oman, Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and Experience Oman, said it was a result earned through sheer execution, teamwork, and perseverance. 'I think it was a very strong race for us,' said Al Harthy. 'We managed to make up so many positions throughout the six hours and to finish with a championship point makes all the effort worth it. We know we're not the most competitive car at the moment but hopefully things can change quickly for Austin.' From the outset, the iconic 4.3km Interlagos circuit posed a challenge. Qualifying didn't go to plan, with Al Harthy narrowly missing out on a top-10 Hyperpole spot by just two-tenths of a second – placing the No.46 BMW M4 LMGT3 14th on the grid. Taking the start of the race, Al Harthy was squeezed down to 17th in the opening laps. But showing typical composure and racecraft, the Muscat-born driver clawed back to 13th by the end of the first hour after a smooth stint and early pit stop. From there, South African ace van der Linde and nine-time MotoGP World Champion Rossi played vital roles in pushing the team forward, with clean overtakes and a well-executed multi-stop strategy. The car rose as high as third overall in LMGT3, before slotting into the top six during mid-race shuffles. In his second stint, Al Harthy again showed consistency and pace, climbing into the top eight. As strategies unfolded, the Omani handed the car over to Rossi, who maintained track position before van der Linde took the final stint and brought the car home in 10th. 'We executed a perfect race, one of the best in terms of team performance,' Al Harthy added. 'That's something we're very proud of – all three drivers were consistent, and the team's pit strategy was flawless. It shows that when everything clicks, we can fight among the best.' After a tough outing at Le Mans and a hard-fought return to the points in Brazil, Al Harthy and Team WRT now look ahead with optimism to round six of the championship – the Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on 6th–7th September. Following the race, Al Harthy remains 14th in the LMGT3 Drivers' Championship with 22 points. 'It's always an honour to represent Oman on this stage,' he said. 'We've had ups and downs, but the team is strong, and I believe we can continue building from here.' Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paolo LMGT3 race result: 1 Jose Maria Lopez / Clemens Schmid / Petru Umbrarescu(Akkodis ASP Team / Lexus RC F), 2 Charlie Eastwood / Tom Van Rompuy / Rui Andrade (TF Sport / Corvette Z06), 3 Eduardo Barrichello / Valentin Hasse Clot / Anthony McIntosh (Racing Spirit of Leman / Aston Martin Vantage AMR), 10 Ahmad Al Harthy / Valentino Rossi / Kelvin van der Linde (Team WRT / BMW M4). 2025 FIA WEC LMGT3 Driver standings (after round five): 1 Riccardo Pera / Richard Lietz / Ryan Hardwick, 89pts, 2 Alessio Rovera / Francois Heriau / Simon Mann, 76pts, 3 Ben Keating / Daniel Juncadella / Jonny Edgar, 66pts, 14 Ahmad Al Harthy / Valentino Rossi / Kelvin van der Linde, 22pts.
Times of Oman
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Times of Oman
BMW M4 Racer Al Harthy Planning Successful Start To Second Half Of FIA WEC Season In Brazil
South America is the destination for Ahmad Al Harthy this week when the FIA World Endurance Championship resumes for round five of the season, the Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, which will take place this coming Sunday, 13th July. Oman's Al Harthy, who has been in tremendous form throughout the 2025 campaign along with Team WRT team-mates Valentino Rossi and Kelvin van der Linde, is very much hoping for a boost to the squad's fortunes in Brazil off the back off a frustrating non-finish in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Well on course to challenge for the LMGT3 class win, a podium at least, during the championship's biggest race of the year just three weeks ago, a luckless electrical issue forced retirement of the rapid No.46 BMW M4 LMGT3 part way through the twice-round-the-clock French encounter. Al Harthy, supported by prestigious partners OQ Group, Sohar International, Omantel, Oman LNG, BMW Oman, Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and Experience Oman, is hungrier than ever to be back on the FIA WEC podium and will be working as hard as possible to achieve that aim. During last year's visit to Interlagos, the Omani's maiden trip to the Brazilian venue, he and then team-mates Rossi and Maxime Martin achieved a strong top five result from 12th on the grid, almost snatching fourth – less than a second shy at the chequered flag after six intense hours of action. As has been a hallmark of Al Harthy's endurance racing career to-date, his opening stint in last year's Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paulo was immensely impressive. Gaining no fewer than six places during the first hour of action, this set the scene for the pleasing result on his Interlagos debut. His second stint was equally strong with fantastic speed, racecraft and overtaking skills on show for all to witness. This time around, Oman's number one racing driver is hoping for more still as the team strives to begin the second half of the FIA World Endurance Championship season on the front foot, and climb back up the LMGT3 points table. Competition, as always in FIA WEC, will be fierce in Brazil with 18 cars entered in LMGT3 alone and a combined grid of 36 entries expected including those from the Hypercar class. Going into the event Al Harthy, Rossi and van der Linde are 12th in the LMGT3 driver standings with a season-best finish of second place from round two at Imola in Italy. Ahmad Al Harthy: 'I can't wait to be back in Brazil this week for my second attempt at the Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, we had a great weekend last year and the top five result from 12th on the grid was a satisfying result on my first ever visit to the track. We're all determined, every single member of the team, to be in a position to challenge for the podium on Sunday and that will be our focus with our preparation. 'Everyone was obviously very disappointed we had to retire the car at Le Mans, but the strength of the performance we showed before then – the pace, the strategy and our individual performances as well – gave us a lot to take away and be very positive about. We're aiming to put all we learned and that experience into practice and hit back as strongly as we can in Sao Paolo.' The first two free practice sessions at Interlagos will take place on Friday, 11th July, with the third session following on Saturday, 12th July, ahead of LMGT3 qualifying at 14.45 Sao Paolo time. The Hyperpole session is immediately after opening qualifying at 15.05 local time. On Sunday, 13th July, the Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paolo will get underway at 11.30 local time. 2025 FIA WEC LMGT3 Driver Standings (after Rd4): 1st Riccardo Pera / Ryan Hardwick / Richard Leitz, 81pts 2nd Alessio Rovera / Francois Heriau / Simon Mann, 76pts 3rd Ben Keating / Daniel Juncadella / Jonny Edgar, 60pts 12th Ahmad Al Harthy / Valentino Rossi / Kelvin van der Linde, 21pts 2025 FIA WEC LMGT3 Team Standings (after Rd4): 1st Manthey 1ST Phorm (Porsche 911), 81pts 2nd Vista AF Corse (Ferrari 296), 76pts 3rd TF Sport (Corvette Z06), 60pts 12th Team WRT (BMW M4 LMGT3), 21pts
Times of Oman
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Times of Oman
Dream of 24hrs of Le Mans win ends for Oman's Ahmad Al Harthy
Muscat: Faultless driving, top strategy and a very quick BMW M4 LMGT3 were not enough to deliver what looked likely to be a bid for a dream victory at this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans for Ahmad Al Harthy and Team WRT – electrical problems in the early hours of Sunday, 15th June, forcing retirement. Oman's Al Harthy and team-mates Valentino Rossi and Kelvin van der Linde had delivered an incredible performance throughout the first half of the twice-round-the-clock encounter at the eight-plus mile Circuit de la Sarthe in France, with LMGT3 silverware well within their grasp. Sadly, though, and for the second year in succession, the 24 Hours of Le Mans ended in misfortune for Al Harthy and Team WRT, having led the class or been inside the top two for the most part since lights-out at 16.00 local time on Saturday, 14th June. After qualifying an excellent third on the grid for the biggest race of the season, round four of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the team choose to begin the 24 Hours with van der Linde and he very quickly climbed into second in LMGT3 close behind the leader. Van der Linde remained in touch in the No.46 BMW M4 and after the initial pit-stops, the South African was back up to second. Oman's Al Harthy climbed behind the wheel for his first miles of the race in hour two and was within less than four seconds of the LMGT3 lead with one hour and 45 minutes elapsed. After another stop, Al Harthy moved up into the lead and he then began to build his advantage, driving faultlessly. Just over three hours into the race the Omani, who is supported by prestigious partners OQ Group, Sohar International, Omantel, Oman LNG, BMW Oman, Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and Experience Oman, led by around 25 seconds. Half an hour later the lead was up to roughly 60 seconds, before handing over to Rossi for his first stint of the race. Holding second place initially, the Italian was every bit as competitive as his two team-mates and he soon moved the No.46 BMW back into first place in LMGT3. One quarter of the way through the race, 22.00 local time, van der Linde was back behind the wheel and held an advantage of 14 seconds at that stage. Just before 23.00, with 100 racing laps in the book, he remained at the front with a buffer of half-a-minute over the nearest rival. The entire race strategy from Team WRT was working like clockwork as midnight neared. Around three hours later, though, the squad's tremendous challenge for a dream victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans came to an end when the car ground to a halt – seemingly with no power. After being recovered back to the pits, it was discovered electrical problems were the cause. Moreover, the issue was irreparable at the track in the time available. Ahmad Al Harthy said: 'Being in the first two positions for the majority of the nine to 10 hours we were racing definitely got us thinking of the possibility of an amazing result. I think how we were able to push the entire time showed we would have been competitive at the end of the race. Unfortunately, though, an electrics issue forced us to retire the car. 'This is what we know about racing, especially at the highest level like Le Mans, and we accept it. Things like this make you appreciate the achievements when you get them. The entire team did an amazing job right throughout the week at Le Mans, across all sessions, and the performance we showed in qualifying was a real highlight personally. We showed in the race what we're capable of, so now we look to bounce back in Brazil. Thank you to everyone for the amazing support.' Round five of the FIA World Endurance Championship takes place four weeks from now, over the weekend 12th/13th July, with the Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paulo at Interlagos in Brazil.
Arab News
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Arab News
‘Greatest 24-hour race on the planet': Oman's Al-Harthy's journey at Le Mans
LE MANS: As the racing world turns its eyes to the Circuit de la Sarthe for the weekend of June 14-15, Oman's Ahmad Al-Harthy returns to the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans for a third time — this year behind the wheel of the BMW M4 GT3 with Team WRT. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport With a Le Mans podium already under his belt and growing support from BMW Oman, BMW Middle East and national partners, Al-Harthy continues to fly the sultanate's flag high on the global motorsport stage. Here are some of his thoughts. On representing Oman at the iconic race … Coming back here for the third time is very emotional. To be able to race and represent Oman, the GCC and everyone from the Arab world is a very proud moment for me. Le Mans is something I've been following since childhood. To me, it's the greatest 24-hour race on the planet. More importantly, it's a place where I truly enjoy racing and driving around, and I'm looking forward to this third experience. On his technical and mental progress since his first Le Mans podium in 2023 … It couldn't have started any better for me. Finishing on the podium in my first-ever 24-hour race was unbelievable, and I still get goosebumps when I think about it. The race was filled with so much emotion. Coming into 2024, my first race with BMW here was going well, but unfortunately, the weather affected us. We feel we have unfinished business, which makes us even more determined and hungry. As a driver, every time you compete in these events, you mature and gain a deeper understanding. I've had quite a few 24-hour race experiences, but Le Mans is always different. When you ask if I'm ready, physically, yes; mentally, it's the challenging part. Le Mans is a demanding circuit because the speeds are very high for extended periods. We are also racing alongside Hypercars and sharing the circuit with that level of speed always pushes your concentration to the limit. I believe that every year we come back, we are slightly stronger. We must take all the positives and learn from every single lap, every single turn. On the buzz of driving his BMW M4 LMGT3 … The first thing is realizing how blessed I am to share the track with some truly iconic names in motorsport. I often reflect on my early days in motorsport, and it fills me with emotions. I also get excited by the speed because it presents a massive challenge. You hear sounds and see things that you don't experience at any other racetrack in the world. I have certain spiritual rituals that I perform for all race weekends, and it's the same in that sense. This is my third 24-hour race, but I have competed at the 'Road to Le Mans' in 2017 and 2019, and I was fortunate enough to stand on the podium three out of four attempts. I feel that this race has been very kind to me, and I hope to continue that streak in 2025. On the chemistry with teammates Valentino Rossi and Kelvin Van Der Linde … You mentioned a very important point: Teamwork. For us to win and achieve great results at any endurance weekend, it's all about teamwork. It's not just about the three drivers; it involves everything from the pit crew to the engineering and support teams. Everyone must be on the same page. The harmony we share at Team WRT is something unique compared to many other teams on the grid. We spend a lot of time together; we are like a family away from home. It's not just about seeing each other in the race car; it's what happens behind the scenes. This closeness allows us to operate at a much higher level. Endurance racing is a long journey, and while it may feel like a sprint, you don't always need the fastest drivers to achieve the best results. You need drivers who can work together. We complement each other and focus on making the car the fastest, rather than just one driver. On the backing from BMW Oman throughout your journey … When we first announced our move to BMW, it was an exciting partnership. BMW's support on and off the racetrack means a lot to me. I'm proud to be an ambassador for the brand, and I've been a fan since I was young. Having a manufacturer support you from your home country in the Middle East is something I take great pride in. A message to young Arab and Omani athletes … The main message is that in motorsports, there are no shortcuts. We would love to see more Arab drivers coming through the ranks. We have some of the best circuits in the world, and it's time to develop these drivers correctly without taking shortcuts. To reach Le Mans, you must come through the ranks, and I hope my presence here creates a path for that. I want to motivate the younger generation to believe that they can be here and achieve their dreams. It takes time, and we need to understand that these things cannot be accomplished overnight. It's a tricky formula, but it's worth it.
Times of Oman
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Times of Oman
Team WRT's Al Harthy, van der Linde and Rossi To Start 24hrs Of Le Mans Third On LMGT3 Grid
Oman's Ahmad Al Harthy and team-mates Kelvin van der Linde and Valentino Rossi combined to deliver a superb performance throughout qualifying for the weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans, the trio's No.46 BMW M4 LMGT3 set to line-up third on the grid for the biggest race of the year. Al Harthy got things off to an outstanding start in the main qualifying session on Wednesday, 11th June, where he emerged quickest of all in the LMGT3 class to comfortably progress the Team WRT entry into the first of two Hyperpole shoot-out sessions on Thursday, 12th June. South African driver van der Linde picked up the baton perfectly and continued in the same vein as Al Harthy, lapping fastest in Hyperpole 1 to ensure the BMW would start a minimum of eighth on the grid for the twice-round-the-clock race – round four of the FIA World Endurance Championship. Rossi got behind the wheel for the decisive Hyperpole 2, straight after the first of the shoot-outs, and the Italian's initial true flying lap was ultimately his best of the session as he concluded the run third in LMGT3. With red flag stoppages impacting qualifying and the first Hyperpole, drivers needed to maintain steely focus and determination to conquer the immense 8.47-mile Circuit de la Sarthe and OQ Group, Sohar International, Omantel, Oman LNG, BMW Oman, Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and Experience Oman supported racer Al Harthy – and the entire team – certainly did that. Brilliant showing from Team WRT trio confirms Le Mans potential Opening qualifying on Wednesday produced a sparkling performance from Al Harthy, who was in outstanding form. Initially topping the times on his first proper lap, the Omani was second with just under 10 minutes of the half hour session elapsed and he held fifth midway through when red flags were flown. Determined to piece together a great lap after the resumption and challenge for the fastest time, he steered the No.46 BMW M4 to a lap of 3m56.875 seconds which placed him on top by four tenths of a second to smoothly progress to Hyperpole as the fastest of the lead 12 contenders. In Hyperpole 1 van der Linde posted a time of 3m55.855 seconds just moments before red flags were shown. After the resumption he improved to 3m54.530 seconds, topping LMGT3, and on his final lap he shaved another two tenths off to conclude the session quickest with 3m54.345 seconds. Rossi climbed into the driving seat for the 15-minute Hyperpole 2 and his first competitive lap was a time of 3m54.966 seconds, placing him third. Ultimately this was the Italian's best of the session as he secured a terrific third on the grid for, arguably, the biggest event in four-wheeled motorsport. Ahmad Al Harthy: 'I was extremely delighted to have put our car on pole in the first qualifying, to do it here in Le Mans was extra, extra special. To be able to maximise everything we could from the car was a huge motivation for everybody in the team. Then into Hyperpole, and Kelvin did an outstanding job in session one, it was a strategic decision to put him in that session and to be pole again was amazing. 'For Vale to get the car in the top three in Hyperpole 2, for sure, is far beyond what we expected – he got a really, really mega lap. This is just the first part of everything but, obviously, it's always good to have a good starting position for a 24 Hour race. I'm really proud of everyone in the team, it was a fantastic team effort right across qualifying. Now we focus on the race!' There is a day away from track action now at the Circuit de la Sarthe ahead of the start of this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans on Saturday, 14th June. Warm-up will take place at 12.00 local time before the race itself starts at 16.00. 2025 FIA WEC LMGT3 Driver Standings (after Rd3): 1st Ben Keating / Daniel Juncadella / Jonny Edgar, 44pts 2nd Alessio Rovera / Francois Heriau / Simon Mann, 40pts 3rd Arnold Robin / Finn Gehrsitz, 38pts 9th Ahmad Al Harthy / Valentino Rossi / Kelvin van der Linde, 21pts 2025 FIA WEC LMGT3 Team Standings (after Rd3): 1st TF Sport (Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R), 44pts 2nd Vista AF Corse (Ferrari 296 GT3), 40pts 3rd Akkodis ASP Team (Lexus RC F LMGT3), 38pts 9th Team WRT (BMW M4 LMGT3), 21pts
