Latest news with #GTWorldChallengeEuropeEnduranceCup
Observer
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Observer
Al Zubair takes Al Manar to Gold Cup victory
MONZA, Italy: Al Manar Racing by Team WRT's Al Faisal al Zubair, Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck delivered another driving and strategic masterclass to finish fourth overall and first in the Gold Cup class at the second round of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup powered by AWS at Monza late on Sunday afternoon. Despite qualifying in seventh, the trio carried out their pit stop strategy perfectly and were able to move through the field during a yellow flag-interrupted three-hour race to finish fourth overall ahead of nine other rivals in the Gold Cup category in their BMW M4 GT3 EVO. It was another proud day for Al Zubair and the Sultanate of Oman in endurance racing. The Racing Aston Martin was a distant second overall and the Tresor Attempto Racing Audi rounded off the Gold Cup podium. A delighted Al Zubair said: 'I'm happy to clinch the win in the Gold Cup Category. 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. 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.' From a start position of seventh in the Gold Cup category, Al Zubair held eighth until a full course yellow brought proceedings to a stop after around 20 minutes. The Garage 59 McLaren had the lead from the CSA Racing McLaren. Action resumed around the half-hour mark and Al Zubair made up a place to take seventh shortly afterwards. The Omani maintained his composure and was soon up to sixth with the Garage 59 McLaren continuing to lead from the Racing Aston Martin. Herberth Motorsport's Porsche was sidelined after 13 laps. Al Zubair retained sixth to another full course yellow with around 1hr 50min of the race remaining. The handover to Tuck was a good one and, when action resumed, Tuck held the lead from the Garage 59 McLaren and the Verstappen Aston. The leading six Gold Cup cars were tightly bunched but Tuck retained the lead through 48 laps with 68 minutes of the race remaining. The CSA Racing McLaren had fallen by the wayside after 36 laps. With less than an hour to run there was yet another full course yellow with Tuck still leading. Racing resumed under a green flag with 54 minutes to go and the final changeover to Klingmann was a successful one with the team retaining an advantage over the Aston Martin and the Optimum Motorsport McLaren. A seventh interruption to the race happened with 31 minutes to run and Klingmann holding the lead and a superb fourth overall. But it was a brief stoppage and the German retained his position, only for a yellow to halt the race for the eighth time with just three minutes left of the 84-lap race. Al Manar Racing by Team WRT carried out a short unofficial test session on Friday with Al Zubair posting a best lap of 1min 46.840sec. Free practice took place on Saturday morning for the 10-car field and the fastest lap of the session went to the Nordique Racing Mercedes in the hands of Japan's Kotaka Kazuko. Tuck's best run for the Al Manar Racing by Team WRT operation was 1min 46.345sec and that put the BMW M4 in the middle of the group in fifth. Pre-qualifying saw the Al Manar Racing BMW down in a subdued eighth with a best lap of 1min 46.694sec in a session won by the Racing Aston Martin. Klingmann carded a best run of 1min 46.101sec in the first of the two qualifying sessions to put the BMW in sixth of the Gold Cup runners. Tuck ran a 1min 45.826sec lap in Q2 and Al Zubair finished his Q3 stint with a best lap of 1min 46.848sec. With the times collated from the three qualifying stints, the Al Manar Racing by Team WRT BMW lined up on the grid in seventh with pole position falling to the Garage 59 McLaren from the CSA Racing McLaren and the Racing Aston Martin. Action in the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup powered by AWS resumes with the prestigious Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa on June 25th-29th.
Muscat Daily
5 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.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Racer Jessica Hawkins the new face of ELEMIS, Aston Martin F1 partnership
Meet the newest brand ambassador for ELEMIS, Aston Martin's Head of F1 Academy Jessica Hawkins. Luxury skincare brand ELEMIS previously inked a deal with Aston Martin earlier in 2025, becoming the first skincare company to sponsor an F1 team. Notably, this partnership represents much more than a logo on the car. With Hawkins officially on board — a seasoned racer and one of motorsport's most influential female figures — this deal points to a long-term commitment from a less traditional F1 team or driver sponsor. Advertisement '10 years ago this definitely wouldn't have happened,' Hawkins told after the Aston Martin deal was announced. 'We've come so far in recent years … it means so much to have a company like ELEMIS believe in me, and the visibility it's creating is incredible.' Being less known in motorsports doesn't mean ELEMIS isn't already making its mark on the paddock so far this year, with visible brand activations at key Grand Prix, including a 'first-of-its-kind spa experience on board the Aston Martin Aramco luxury yacht' at the upcoming Monaco GP. 'I think we align very well on everything that we stand for,' Hawkins said. 'We're two British brands, and very passionate about similar things. They're obviously a huge company and I'm so proud to be one of their ambassadors.' Advertisement In addition to the team-level sponsorship, ELEMIS will also support Hawkins directly as she competes in the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup with Comtoyou Racing. 'The simple answer is I wouldn't be racing without [sponsorship],' Hawkins said. 'It's very expensive, and I come from a normal family who don't have the funds to support that.' In fact, the thought of receiving a funding from a company within the beauty space would have been inconceivable until very recently, when the likes of Charlotte Tilbury became a founding partner of F1 Academy and e.l.f. Cosmetics began blazing a unique trail in American motorsports. And the deal isn't just about motorsport. 'We want to empower women outside of motorsport as well. Of course the partnership is motorsport-led, but it's bigger than that,' she said. 'When I first started [racing], I could name all of the influential women I knew in motorsport on one hand. Now there are so many, which shows how far we've come.' ELEMIS CEO Sean Harrington emphasized the brand's commitment to that progress. "Jessica's fearless pursuit of progress in motorsport mirrors our own commitment to challenging the status quo and driving positive change,' he said. 'Her passion, resilience, and advocacy for greater inclusivity make her a natural partner for ELEMIS. Together, we aim to inspire, empower, and elevate the voices of females in sport and beyond." To read more articles visit our website.
