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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.
Muscat Daily
08-04-2025
- Automotive
- Muscat Daily
Oman's Al Zubair targets podium finish at GT World Challenge Endurance Cup at Paul Ricard
Paul Ricard, France – Al Manar Racing by Team WRT's Al Faisal al Zubair starts his 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup powered by AWS campaign alongside Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck at the Paul Ricard circuit in France this weekend. Saturday evening's season opener will see the Omani and his British and German teammates challenging for honours in a BMW M4 GT3 EVO in a six-hour race that has attracted a 59-car field with 10 manufacturers spread across the various classes. The race provides the perfect opportunity for Al-Faisal to put his native Sultanate of Oman in the international spotlight by pushing for success on the world stage. Competition for Al Manar Racing by Team WRT in the Gold Cup category comes from the likes of Garage 59, Optimum Motorsport and Team RJN in their McLaren 720S GT3 EVOs, the Tresor Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 and the Herberth Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R. The Gold line-up also includes Racing's new Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 and the Paul Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan GT3. Al Zubair said: 'I am looking forward to the first round of the GT World Challenge with the new team and the new car, the BMW M4 GT3 EVO, and my new team-mates, Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck. I have raced with Ben once before in Dubai 24H. That was a great start for us, winning that race together. 'I think GT World Challenge is known as the toughest World Championship in GT and endurance racing. We know it will be difficult. We have been testing in a couple of places in the last month doing all the hard work with it all. We are looking forward to getting started in a strong way. 'The championship is quite long, 10 rounds, and this is the first one and it's a six-hour race as well. It won't be easy physically but everyone at Al Manar Racing is very excited. Our target will be to have the Omani flag on the podium, inshallah, on Saturday night!' The GTWC entrants will share the circuit this weekend with competitors from the GT4 and GT2 European Series and Lamborghini Super Trofeo drivers. A two-hour free practice session for the opening round of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup powered by AWS gets underway at 2.20 pm on Friday. Pre-qualifying then follows at 8 pm. The crucial three qualifying stints take centre stage on the French circuit from 11.50 am on Saturday with the six-hour race firing into life at 6 pm.
Times of Oman
08-04-2025
- Automotive
- Times of Oman
Al Zubair aims podium finish at season opener
MUSCAT: Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT's Al Faisal Al Zubair starts his 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup (GTWCEEC) powered by AWS campaign alongside Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck at the Paul Ricard circuit in France on April 11-12. Saturday evening's season opener will see the Omani and his British and German team-mates challenging for honours in a BMW M4 GT3 EVO in a six-hour race that has attracted a 59-car field with 10 manufacturers spread across the various classes. The race provides the perfect opportunity for Al Zubair to put his native Sultanate of Oman in the international spotlight by pushing for success on the world stage. Competition for Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT in the Gold Cup category comes from the likes of Garage 59, Optimum Motorsport and Team RJN in their McLaren 720S GT3 EVOs, the Tresor Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 and the Herberth Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R. The Gold line-up also includes Racing's new Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 and the Paul Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan GT3. Al Zubair said: 'I am looking forward to the first round of the GT World Challenge with the new team and the new car, the BMW M4 GT3 EVO, and my new team-mates, Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck. I have raced with Ben once before in Dubai 24H. That was a great start for us, winning that race together. 'I think GT World Challenge is known as the toughest World Championship in GT and endurance racing. We know it will be difficult. We have been testing in a couple of places in the last month doing all the hard work with it all. We are looking forward to getting started in a strong way. 'The championship is quite long, 10 rounds, and this is the first one and it's a six-hour race as well. It won't be easy physically but everyone at Al Manar Racing is very excited. Our target will be to have the Omani flag on the podium, inshallah, on Saturday night.' A two-hour free practice session for the opening round of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup powered by AWS gets underway at 14.20hrs on Friday afternoon. Pre-qualifying then follows at 20.00hrs. The crucial three qualifying stints take centre stage on the French circuit from 11.50hrs on Saturday with the six-hour race firing into life at 18.00hrs.
Observer
24-03-2025
- Automotive
- Observer
Al Faisal to tackle GT World Challenge twin challenges
MUSCAT: Al Manar Racing by Team WRT's Al Faisal al Zubair has announced that he will tackle both the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance and Sprint Cups this season. At an exclusive press reception and announcement at the Kempinski Hotel in Muscat on Sunday evening, the Omani confirmed that Al Manar Racing's association with Team WRT will stretch to the 10-race programme and he will team up with Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck this season. The evening was held under the auspices of HH Sayyid Kamil bin Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said, the Secretary-General of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers. Al Manar Racing by Team WRT's Al Faisal al Zubair will team up with Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck this season. Al Zubair said: 'I am excited to announce my programme for 2025. Al Manar Racing by Team WRT will be participating in the BMW M4 GT3 Evo for the full season of GT World Challenge Europe. The championship will consist of 10 rounds for both the Endurance and Sprint championships. 'I'll be teaming up with Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck for this season's Gold Cup title assault and can't wait to get it all started at Paul Ricard next month.' The new chapter in Al Zubair's career and the association with Team WRT kicked off in spectacular fashion with a stunning victory at the Dubai 24hr race with Dan Harper, Max Hesse, Ben Tuck and Darren Leung in January. Al Zubair became the first Omani driver ever to claim the overall win in the gruelling race at the Dubai Autodrome. Last year, he enjoyed a valuable season competing under the Al Manar Racing banner and won the Gold Cup category and finished second overall at the prestigious Crowdstrike 24hr of Spa in Belgium. Al Manar Racing by Team WRT's Al Faisal al Zubair will team up with Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck this season. British team-mate Tuck drove a Ferrari for Kessel Racing in last year's GT World Challenge Europe's Endurance Cup and is a full-time endurance driver and performance coach. German racer Klingmann, 34, is a long-time BMW factory driver, who led Team WRT to a memorable win at Monza in September 2024.
Muscat Daily
24-03-2025
- Automotive
- Muscat Daily
Al Manar Racing by Team WRT to compete in full season of GT World Challenge Europe
Muscat – Al Manar Racing by Team WRT's Al Faisal al Zubair said he will tackle both the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance and Sprint Cups this season. At an exclusive press reception and announcement at the Kempinski Hotel in Muscat on Sunday evening, the Omani confirmed that Al-Manar Racing's association with Team WRT will stretch to the 10-race programme and he will team up with Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck this season. The evening was held under the patronage of His Highness Kamel Bin Fahad Bin Mahmoud al Saeed, Secretary-General of Oman's General Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers. Al Zubair said: 'I am excited to announce my programme for 2025. Al Manar Racing Klingman by Team WRT will be participating in the BMW M4 GT3 Evo for the full season of GT World Challenge Europe. The championship will consist of 10 rounds for both the Endurance and Sprint championships. 'I'll be teaming up with Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck for this season's Gold Cup title assault and can't wait to get it all started at Paul Ricard next month.' The new chapter in Al Zubair's career and the association with Team WRT kicked off in spectacular fashion with a stunning victory at the Dubai 24hr race with Dan Harper, Max Hesse, Ben Tuck and Darren Leung in January. Al-Zubair became the first Omani driver ever to claim the overall win in the gruelling race at the Dubai Autodrome. Last year, he enjoyed a valuable season competing under the Al-Manar Racing banner and won the Gold Cup category and finished second overall at the prestigious Crowdstrike 24hr of Spa in Belgium. British team-mate Tuck drove a Ferrari for Kessel Racing in last year's GT World Challenge Europe's Endurance Cup and is a full-time endurance driver and performance coach. German racer Klingmann, 34, is a long-time BMW factory driver, who led Team WRT to a memorable win at Monza in September 2024. Action kicks off with the opening round of the Endurance Cup at the Paul Ricard circuit in France on April 11th-13th.
