MAGAZINE9-10-11 JANUARY24hseries.com DUNLOP 24H DUBAItwitter.com/24hseries 2 014 facebook.com/24hseries 9-10-11 JANUARY 2014 9th edition TOURING, GT CARS & 24H SPECIALS Entry list Follow us Dubai City of Dreams Interviews All participating Make sure you won’t The most beautiful highlights 5 drivers, one passion teams miss a thing in Dubai DANIELA SCHMID | SEBASTIAN ASCH FRANCIS TJIA | MIRO KONOPKA | KHALED ABDULLA AL QUBAISI Race inspired Grip and Braking for the road New short braking Massive outer New adaptive Light construction blocks for reduced shoulder blocks for compound for enhanced carcass to improve braking distance improved stability grip on wet and dry fuel e ciency www.dunloptyres.co.uk 02 DUNLOP 24H DUBAI 2014 | WWW.24HSERIES.COM GDE13022_AMG_ AD_210x297+3mm_A.indd 1 21/03/2013 10:46 Race inspired I would like to extend a warm Grip and Braking welcome to all the drivers, teams and race fans to this new for the road edition of the widely anticipated Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai. his event has become a prominent fixture of the emirate’s sporting calendar with over 80 entries from Taround the world converging in Dubai to compete for the ultimate automobile endurance challenge. The Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai is the perfect way to start the year’s international motor racing season. On the grid we will see several teams and drivers from Dubai, which shows the progress that we have achieved towards promoting motorsport in the emirate and across the UAE. Moreover, many UAE-based drivers actually started their racing career at the Kartdrome and at the Dubai Autodrome main circuit. The significance of this international racing competition resonates well beyond the tracks; it manifests the growing reputation of Dubai as a popular venue of some of the Under the patronage of most prestigious events in the world. The Dubai Autodrome, in particular, serves as the premier destination for major motor racing activities. Moreover, it is a fully integrated H.H. Sheikh Hamdan development concept that sits at the heart of Motorcity, a purpose-built community that attracts residents who are eager to be part of a unique motorsport-themed bin Mohammed bin neighborhood. Fans who have followed Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai since its Rashid Al Maktoum inception will indeed be amazed at the pace of development around the venue and across the entire emirate of Dubai. We have made all this possible because of you – the fans, the drivers, the teams – and we therefore hope to count Crown Prince of Dubai on your continued support to this event as you become an New short braking Massive outer New adaptive Light construction integral part of Dubai’s remarkable transformation. blocks for reduced shoulder blocks for compound for enhanced carcass to improve and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council braking distance improved stability grip on wet and dry fuel e ciency To the drivers, teams and fans, may you thoroughly enjoy the racing season’s opening salvo and may you also feel the warmth of Dubai’s unique brand of hospitality. Thank you again for joining us this year and may the best team win. Dr. Ahmad Alsharif Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council www.dunloptyres.co.uk WWW.24HDUBAI.COM | DUNLOP 24H DUBAI 2014 03 GDE13022_AMG_ AD_210x297+3mm_A.indd 1 21/03/2013 10:46 CONTENTS www.twsteel.com CONTENTS Welcome 03 Dr. Ahmad Alsharif Circuit map 16 Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council Timeschedule 19 07 Creventic 09 Ali Al Fardan Getting to know the track 21 Dubai Autodrome Chairman 11 Huub Vermeulen Timekeeping 23 President, DNRT Foundation 13 Mohammed Ben Sulayem Classes 25 President, ATCUAE Entrylist 26 Welcome party 41 54 49 Dubai Driver rankings 44 Radio Le Mans 42 City of Fighting cancer lap by lap 47 Dreams Marion Plater - Dunlop 54 Dunlop 24H DUBAI Trophy 57 Catering 58 Merchandise 60 14 DNRT 63 Follow us All over the world 64 66 Driver interviews Facts 69 Highlights 36 Daniela Schmid 37 Sebastian Asch Moment of Fame 70 38 Francis Tjia 39 Khaled Abdulla Al Qubaisi Next Races 74 40 Miro Konopka www.twsteel.com WWW.24HDUBAI.COM | DUNLOP 24H DUBAI 2014 05 06 DUNLOP 24H DUBAI 2014 | WWW.24HSERIES.COM Dear TEAMS, DRIVERS, MECHANICS, PARTNERS, MEDIA and FANS, dear VISITORS of the 2014 DUNLOP 24H DUBAI nce again, we have gathered to cel- playing a major role in the sporting organ- from all over the world are also on site to ebrate the joy of motor racing in the isation of this race, and to our official tyre cover the race. Ofirst major event of the new calendar partner and title sponsor, Dunlop, for their Let’s also spare a thought for those who year. The Dunlop 24H DUBAI truly has great support. are less privileged than we. Once again, this international flair, with people from From the very beginning, it has always the Dutch Cancer Society is the official so many different countries from all over been our goal to achieve a full interna- charity of the Dunlop 24H DUBAI. You can the world coming together to enjoy their tional starting grid with a great variety help the good cause by making a donation shared passion for our beloved sport. of cars in the true spirit of endurance to contribute to a better future for cancer Therefore, it is our great pleasure to racing. The concept with the various patients and other people involved in the welcome you to this ninth running of the classes and the diversity of cars and terrible consequences of this disease. Dunlop 24H DUBAI. We are proud and brands has proven to be successful over Let’s make this race a special event honoured to be able to organise this spec- the years. Of course, this international el- together, because… Everyone deserves a tacular event for the ninth year already. ement and the convivial atmosphere that tomorrow! has become a trademark for our events Of course, staging such a race far away can also be found off the track. We ask Last but not least, we would like to thank from home is always a major challenge. But for your kind co-operation to keep the you all, team members, visitors, compet- living up to our motto ‘Cross your borders’, good spirit in the pits and in the paddock, itors, media representatives and friends we are ready to face the challenge here and we look forward to seeing all of you for your continuing support and effort. at Dubai Autodrome after a long time of at our traditional Welcome Party in the Let’s enjoy another memorable weekend thorough preparation at our headquarters paddock area. of motor racing together. in The Netherlands. With a team of over 40 volunteers and various event partners, we Once again, our friends from Radio Show We wish you all a good, fast and above all will again do our utmost to make the 2014 Ltd, the team behind Radio Le Mans, are save race. Dunlop 24H DUBAI a success. We express on board for radio coverage and com- our particular thanks to the Dubai Autodrome mentary of this race. Motors TV is back to Kind regards, team and staff for their constructive cooper- provide live TV coverage, while the race Creventic ation and of course to the ATCUAE for their can also be watched through live stream- Helen Roukens, Daphne Gengler, support and commitment. A special thanks ing on the website. Representatives from Natasha Mark and Gerrie Willems to the crew members of the DNRT, who are countless print and online media outlets WWW.24HDUBAI.COM | DUNLOP 24H DUBAI 2014 07 AVAILABLE NOW! WWW.DUBAIAUTODROME.COM 08 DUNLOP 24H DUBAI 2014 | WWW.24HSERIES.COM Welcome from the Dubai Autodrome Chairmain I would like to start by saying that I am deeply honoured that this which kick starts the 2014 motor racing season. edition of the Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai is run under the greatly esteemed patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin A thank you must go out to the ATCUAE who, under the astute Rashid Al Maktoum Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the leadership of their president Dr. Mohammed Bin Sulayem, provide the Dubai Sports Council. required infrastructure and back-up which helps make this event the success which it is and has been over the years. On behalf of Dubai Autodrome I extend a hearty welcome to our international friends attending this weekend’s Dunlop 24 Hours of A big thanks must go out to the hard working team of Creventic BV Dubai in the heart of Motorcity. and our very own Dubai Autodrome staff – led by general manager Richard Birch - who together produce what is a well organised and Over the past decade this event at Dubai Autodrome has firmly most enjoyable weekend of racing, of the highest standards. entrenched itself as a mainstay of the UAE’s illustrious sporting calendar, while establishing a fine reputation in the world of motor I salute the marshals and officials at this race for their commitment sport. I can proudly say that it now ranks right up there with the and dedication, not to mention the hard work they put in to make legendary 24 hours races that are part and parcel of our sport. this happen. Without them we would have no racing. The event has grown in stature over the years, almost mirroring Last but by no means least I welcome all the drivers, teams and the development of Motorcity which is the neighbourhood of Dubai everyone associated with these.