Latest news with #TotalEnergies6HoursofSpa-Francorchamps
Observer
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Observer
Al Harthy, Valentino, Kelvin secure hard-fought 9th at Spa
Team WRT trio Ahmad al Harthy, Valentino Rossi and Kelvin van der Linde had to be satisfied with a ninth place result during round three of the FIA World Endurance Championship in Belgium on Saturday, in an encounter where the pace of the No.46 BMW M4 was largely maximised. Aiming to mount a podium challenge ahead of the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, continuing the momentum from their fabulous second place at Imola in Italy last month, other than a speed-limiter glitch in one of the pit-stops the race went fairly faultlessly. Oman's Al Harthy raced very competitively from ninth on the LMGT3 grid during his two hour-plus stint. Making excellent early gains after a superb start, he ensured the team was in the best position possible as the No.46 car spent a good portion of the first 120 minutes in and around the top three. 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship Following the system glitch at Al Harthy's second stop, an unfortunate drive-through penalty had to be served before Rossi and van der Linde then took the concluding parts of the six-hour race at the famous Ardennes track. Qualifying on Saturday went well for Al Harthy, ending the run seventh fastest and just half a second shy of provisional pole. Progressing the Team WRT entry into the all-important Hyperpole session immediately after, which Rossi contested, the Italian ended up ninth in the top 10 grid shoot-out. Following the team's second stop Al Harthy found himself ninth in LMGT3 and into the third hour he climbed back into the top six and worked hard to undo the damage of the penalty stop before Rossi took over. Battling his way back to the tail of the top six by the end of hour three, when the Safety Car was again required, soon after he moved into second as further pit-stops were made. Spa Francorchamps, Belgium Rossi then pitted and rejoined in seventh, climbing up to third with just a couple of hours remaining as the Safety Car circulated once more. At the next pit visit van der Linde took his first race miles with roughly 90 minutes to go and although moving up from the top 12 to fifth, after a final stop with 40 minutes left the South African was 12th again and had to ultimately settle for ninth position. Round four of the FIA WEC season, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, will be contested over the weekend 14th/15th June at the Circuit de la Sarthe in France. TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps LMGT3 Race Result: 1st Alessio Rovera / Francois Heriau / Simon Mann (Vista AF Corse / Ferrari 296) 2nd Dennis Olsen / Stefano Gattuso / Gianmarco Levorato (Proton Competition / Ford Mustang) 3rd Davide Rigon / Thomas Flohr / Francesco Castellacci (Vista AF Corse / Ferrari 296) 4th Ben Barker / Bernardo Sousa / Ben Tuck (Proton Competition / Ford Mustang) 5th Mattia Drudi / Ian James / Zacharie Robichon (Heart of Racing Team / Aston Martin Vantage) 9th Ahmad Al Harthy / Valentino Rossi / Kelvin van der Linde (Team WRT / BMW M4)
Times of Oman
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Times of Oman
Oman's Al Harthy Belgium-Bound as FIA WEC Season continues at Spa-Francorchamps
Spa-Francorchamps, venue for some of Ahmad Al Harthy's most spectacular achievements in motor racing, welcomes the FIA World Endurance Championship for round three of the season this coming Saturday, 10th May, where the Omani aims to continue his and Team WRT's podium momentum. Fresh from a near-victory at Imola in Italy less than three weeks ago, where team-mate Kelvin van der Linde took the chequered flag a mere 0.3 seconds shy of the race win, the duo and fellow Team WRT racer Valentino Rossi are focused on trying to go one better at Spa. Imola very much marked the true start of the 2025 season for the No.46 BMW M4 LMGT3 entry with a spectacular performance – Al Harthy fastest by some margin in qualifying and Rossi then sealing pole position in Hyperpole. In the fight for victory throughout, an unfortunate penalty threatened to derail the squad's podium challenge but an outstanding final stint from van der Linde brought the BMW back through the order superbly to second place, a fraction from the win. Rocketing up the championship standings into the LMGT3 top six as a result, only eight points shy of the top three, the goal in Belgium is to continue the high level of performance in the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps to solidify their 2025 championship challenge. Not only that, there is a clear desire for some redemption too after an unfortunate retirement from last year's encounter at Spa. Contact from one of the Hypercar class Porsches midway through hour two ended the BMW's involvement while in the battle for the LMGT3 podium. Historically, of course, OQ Group, Sohar International, Omantel, Oman LNG, BMW Oman, Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and Experience Oman supported racer Al Harthy has a strong affinity with Spa-Francorchamps having enjoyed tremendous success there. Unquestionably his career highlight at the track to date was Pro-Am class victory in the Total 24 Hours of Spa in 2019 in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, then known as the Blancpain Endurance Cup. All achieved from a pitlane start! Ahmad Al Harthy: 'We're all looking forward to continuing the FIA WEC season at Spa this weekend, Imola was an amazing event and really did kick-start our championship. Everyone at Team WRT did an incredible job, Vale and Kelvin were super quick as always and I was so happy with my performance in both qualifying and the race. 'What can you say about Spa that hasn't already been said? It's an incredible track, one of the best in the world, and we have enjoyed so much success there over the years. I've always loved racing at Spa, the track is an amazing challenge and it's one of those places were I have always seemed to go well. After being so close to the win at Imola, we're aiming to fight just as hard again this weekend.' Practice at Spa begins on Thursday, 8th May, with the opening two sessions ahead of session three on Friday, 9th May, and then qualifying at 14:40 local time – Hyperpole following straight after. On Saturday, 10th May, the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps will begin at 14:00 local time. Follow live at 2025 FIA WEC LMGT3 Driver Standings (after Rd2): 1st Ben Keating / Daniel Juncadella / Jonny Edgar, 44pts 2nd Arnold Robin / Finn Gehrsitz, 33pts 3rd Gregoire Saucy / James Cottingham / Sebastien Baud, 27pts 6th Ahmad Al Harthy / Valentino Rossi / Kelvin van der Linde, 19pts 2025 FIA WEC LMGT3 Team Standings (after Rd2): 1st TF Sport (Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R), 44pts 2nd Akkodis ASP Team (Lexus RC F LMGT3), 33pts 3rd United Autosports (McLaren 720 S LMGT3 EVO), 27pts 6th Team WRT (BMW M4 LMGT3), 19pts
