Al Harthy Embracing “New Challenge” With BMW, WRT

Ahmad Al Harthy is moving “from one family to another” in joining Team WRT for his sophomore season in the FIA World Endurance Championship, adding that joining the Vincent Vosse-led squad was the way to go as he sought a “new challenge.”

The Omani driver will line up alongside BMW M Motorsport factory drivers Valentino Rossi and Maxime Martin aboard the No. 46 BMW M4 GT3 in the 18-car LMGT3 class, which debuts in this weekend’s Qatar 1812km.

The move to join the Belgian powerhouse stable marks a new chapter for the 42-year-old, who previously spent the majority of his career racing Aston Martin machinery, mostly with Tom Ferrier’s TF Sport team.

However, TF’s move to race the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R in WEC this year meant Al Harthy’s tenure with Aston was set to come to an end, which prompted him to explore other options.

“The opportunity to race with WRT [and] BMW came across and we studied it, we analyzed the opportunities we had with the team,” Al Harthy told Sportscar365.

“I felt at this point of my career, I was ready for a new challenge. It would have been a new challenge wherever I went because I was definitely leaving Aston Martin.

“When I spoke to everybody and met the team, and worked with the team at the test, it was very clear that this was the path for me to go.

“Ever since I first raced in endurance I’ve been watching WRT as one of the top teams. I’m just really happy that I had WEC under my belt as well from last year. I learned a lot.

“2024 is a new championship for WEC in terms of GT3 cars. Just the level of experience in all the categories. It’s massive, it’s huge.

“I’m really looking forward to first of all being with the team and obviously racing in No. 46. I’ve worked with Maxime in the past and that was very helpful for me to make my decision obviously.

“And to race with a legend such as Valentino is also a great opportunity.”

Al Harthy’s experience competing alongside Martin dates back to a one-off partnership at the 2021 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup round at the Nürburgring, where the Belgian stood in for Charlie Eastwood.

“That’s where I got to know him,” Al Harthy said. 

“So I really enjoyed racing with him then. But we crossed paths a lot in different championships and we kept in touch.

“I spoke to my friends who raced in BMW as well. I spoke to people who’ve worked with WRT and Vincent as well. And it was a very easy, quick decision. I literally went from one family to another.”

In addition to competing in WEC, Al Harthy is also set to return to Fanatec GT Europe Endurance Cup competition with WRT, sharing a Bronze Cup-entered BMW with former European Le Mans Series teammate Sam De Haan and BMW factory driver Jens Klingmann.

“The BMW move was also important for how it was accepted back in Oman,” Al Harthy said.

“It was very important for us to also create another program as long as we can race with under the Oman Racing banner as well in GTWC. 

“I’m proud that we were able to do something and that also gives me extra mileage in the car as well. It also gives me a lot of opportunity to keep working with WRT and the team.

“Every time being in the car is important. 2024 will be one of the busiest calendars I’ve had in my racing career.

“So it’s a championship in both fronts that we’re really looking forward to competing in the best possible way.”

Al Harthy ended his debut WEC season fifth in the GTE-Am standings, most notably securing a class podium in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

With a year of learning under his belt, he says his target is now to become a championship contender and a regular threat for race wins.

“We’re here to get results,” Al Harthy said. “We want to do the best we can as a team every time we’re out on track.

“I’m just a tiny member of that team that needs to make sure that we perform the best we can. And we just want everybody to perform at their best.”