(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Two years after making a spectacular debut in the highly-competitive Gulf 12 Hours endurance race at the Formula One Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Oman's Ahmad al Harthy will return to the race for the second time in December.
It was in December 2015 that Ahmad had teamed up with Jonny Adam and Darren Turner in their Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 car to claim a creditable third place for the Motorbase-powered Oman Racing Team.
Since then Ahmad has gone on to win many laurels in endurance racing. Only recently, Ahmad and Adam were crowned Pro-Am class champion in the prestigious 2017 Blancpain GT Series GT3 Endurance Cup with TF Sport.
With TF Sport confirming that it make its debut in the season-ending Gulf 12 Hours race with Oman Racing, it will be yet another opportunity for Ahmad to showcase his potential in the region.
TF Sport's team in Abu Dhabi will be led by Ahmad, who will be joined by Road to Le Mans double winner Tom Jackson and 2016 Porsche Carrera Cup racer Euan McKay at the wheel of the Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3.
In his remarks to Muscat Daily, Ahmad said, 'I have had sweet memories of my debut in the race in 2015. I remember it was a very competitive race. I am looking forward to racing at Yas Marina again and hopefully, we could be back on podium again.'
'I have raced with Tom [Jackson] in the past and with Euan [McKay] we have a good team. A win will be a perfect way to end the year.
'The proximity of the race venue to Oman will also be a good chance for my fans and my corporate supporters to come and cheer me during the race at the beautiful F1 circuit.'
The 35 year old Ahmad had also competed at the circuit during his stint in the Porsche Middle East Championship in 2012.
TF Sport director Tom Ferrier said, 'It's an event that we've wanted to do for a long time and it's a great time of the year for us to assess drivers and to enjoy an end of season event.'
'We have a known quantity in Ahmad in the car and to a certain extent we do with Tom as well following his successful run with us at the Road to Le Mans.
'We also welcome Euan into the fold and I think we have an interesting driver line-up with two silver drivers and a bronze. Who knows what the future will bring, but I'm sure it will be a good first Gulf 12 Hours for us.'
Jackson joined TF Sport for the 2017 Road to Le Mans challenge in June, pairing up with Ahmad and it was a formidable partnership with the duo winning both GT3 races ahead of the main 24-Hour race.
Jackson said, 'Once you find a good team like TF Sport, you really want to keep in with them. This opportunity to race in Abu Dhabi was one I couldn't miss.
'I'm looking forward to working with Ahmad and Euan and we all have the same passion for success. We need to finish and we need to win.
'I personally want to keep the momentum from the Road to Le Mans rolling as it is my ambition to keep stepping up and to compete with the team in the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year.'
McKay, meanwhile, comes from a background in the Porsche Carrera Cup, stepping up to the series in 2016 with
Redline Racing. He currently sits sixth in the standings with 11 rounds completed.
The two-stage race starts on December 16 at 9.30am through to 3.30pm. After a break, racing recommences at 5.45pm before it concludes at 11.45pm.
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