10.01.2015

Hankook 24h Dubai at Dubai Autodrome/United Arab Emirates

A 1-2 for the SLS AMG GT3 in the Hankook 24h Dubai to start the season


  • AMG Customer Sports Team Black Falcon wins 24-hour race in Dubai
  • Second place overall for the Ram Racing gullwing
  • A total of twelve SLS AMG GT3 at the start, more than ever before in a GT3 race

Dubai Autodrome (UAE). German AMG Customer Sports Team Black Falcon claimed overall victory in the first endurance race of the year, the Hankook 24h Dubai. Ram Racing from Great Britain ended up second in its maiden race with the SLS AMG GT3. In the tenth running of the race in Dubai, twelve race gullwings run by ten different teams were on the starting grid. In total, 89 cars took the start in the demanding desert marathon. The Black Falcon team showed a dominant performance throughout the race. Yelmer Buurman (NED) started from second place and already took the lead in the first hour of the race after a thrilling opening stage. Later on, the Dutchman and his team-mates Abdulaziz Al Faisal (KSA), Hubert Haupt (GER) and Oliver Webb (GBR) successfully defended their leading position. Eventually, the quartet won with a margin of four race laps. For the Black Falcon team and the SLS AMG GT3, this was already the third overall win in the Dubai 24 Hours.

With second place overall, Ram Racing completed the 1-2 for the SLS AMG GT3. Drivers Cheerag Arya (IND), Thomas Jäger (GER), Tom Onslow-Cole and Adam Christodoulou (both GBR) had secured themselves fourth place on the grid and successfully held on to their position among the front runners throughout the race. AMG Customer Sports Team SPS automotive-performance also battled for a podium result for many hours. After a collision, however, Valentin Pierburg, Lance-David Arnold, Patrick Assenheimer and Alex Müller (all GER) had to retire.

The Dubai 24-hour race started on Friday, January 9, at 14.00 hrs local time. The chequered flag was waved on Saturday, January 10, also at 14.00 hrs.

Jochen Bitzer, head of AMG Customer Sports: "Congratulations to the teams Black Falcon and Ram Racing for the 1-2 in the Dubai 24 Hours. Scoring such a phenomenal result right away at the start of the season is outstanding. Due to the many participants and the high temperatures in Dubai, we have seen a very demanding and challenging race. This led to several collisions, in which, unfortunately, some of our customer teams also had to retire. Our thanks to all the AMG Customers Sports teams that have competed this weekend. In total, there were twelve race gullwings on the starting grid, more than ever before. That shows that the SLS AMG GT3 still enjoys a great popularity. We would like to wish all the AMG Customer Sports Teams a good and successful 2015. We are already looking forward to the upcoming races."

Thomas Jäger, AMG Customer Sports Pool Driver : "Competing for the new AMG Customer Sports Team Ram Racing really was great fun. For the team, this was the maiden race with the SLS AMG GT3 and everyone involved has done a great job. The joy within the team about second place is immense. Congratulations to Black Falcon for its third overall win in the 24-hour race in Dubai."

Sean Paul Breslin, team manager, Black Falcon:"We are delighted, because this third overall win in Dubai is an outstanding achievement for our team. Unfortunately, our sister car was sidelined from the race after an accident at an early stage already. Nevertheless, joy about the victory prevails.."

Source: Daimler AG 

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