24H Dubai Attracts Record GT3 Field

Creventic has released the full provisional entry list for the 20th edition of the Michelin 24H Dubai, headlined by the largest top-class field in the event’s history.

In total, 67 cars have been entered for the event, 33 of which will compete in the GT3 category.

That makes it the largest number of cars in the top class since the event debuted in 2006, with the previous record standing at 29, which dates back to 2012.

It also marks an increase of ten compared to this year’s postponed edition, while it is also the largest top class entry since the COVID-19 pandemic.

In total, eight brands are represented with entries from Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche.

While reigning champions Eastalent Racing do not return to defend their crown, former winners Team WRT, Herberth Motorsport and Car Collection Motorsport are all represented.

In Eastalent’s absence, Audi is represented by HAAS RT, Sainteloc Racing, Attempto Racing and Continental Racing by Simpson Motorsport.

Although not listed on the entry but as previously reported by Sportscar365, WRT will return after a one-year absence with a single BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

A Creventic spokesperson told Sportscar365 that the team’s entry, including drivers, will be added to the list at a later date.

The Vincent Vosse-led squad is joined in the BMW camp by the Century Motorsport-operated Paradine Competition squad, which will see FIA World Endurance Championship competitors Darren Leung, Ahmad Al Harthy and Josh Caygill team up with Rob Collard and Toby Sowery.

Porsche, which holds the most event victories at six but has gone winless since 2021, is represented by Manamauri Energy by Ebimotors, Huber Racing, Herberth, Car Collection, Dinamic GT, Proton Huber Competition and Pure Rxcing.

As previously revealed, two-time World Rally champion Kalle Rovanpera will make his GT3 debut aboard the No. 969 Proton Huber entry.

Meanwhile, Dinamic GT has enlisted Klaus Bachler and Loek Hartog, champions in FIA WEC and Porsche Carrera Cup North America respectively, to pilot its No. 24 car alongside Stanislav Minsky, Anders Fjordbach and Thomas Kiefer.

Alex Malykhin, who partnered with Bachler to win WEC’s LMGT3 title this past season, will share the No. 92 Pure Rxcing Porsche with Alexey Nesov, Thomas Preining and Harry King.

Mercedes-AMG, having previously won the event five times, will feature entries from Winward Racing, Heart of Racing by SPS, Haupt Racing Team, Team Motopark, SMP Racing, Hofor Racing, MP Motorsport and GWR Australia.

Notably, HRT will still field a single car from the Stuttgart brand despite announcing a switch to Ford machinery in October.

Ferrari enjoys an uptick in entries compared to last year, with a two-car effort from local squad Dragon Racing joined by Racing One, Scuderia Praha and Era Motorsport.

Dragon’s No. 88 entry features Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Bronze Cup standout Dustin Blattner joined by Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America teammates Patrick Liddy and Blake McDonald.

Liddy and McDonald last shared a GT3 car when they drove for DXDT Racing in October’s Indianapolis 8 Hour.

Aston Martin, meanwhile, will hunt for its first overall victory in the event with three cars: two from Comtoyou Racing and one from Earl Bamber Motorsport.

One of the entries from the Belgian squad features TF Sport LMGT3 driver Tom van Rompuy, while EBM team owner and Cadillac factory racer Earl Bamber will get behind the wheel of the team’s No. 77 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo.

McLaren and Bentley are both represented by a single entry, with Optimum Motorsport fielding a McLaren 720S GT3 Evo for Morgan Tillbrook, Thomas Ikin, Mikey Porter and Benjamin Goethe.

Team Parker Racing, for its part, will enter a single Bentley Continental GT3, driven by Scott Malvern, touring car stalwart Rob Huff and Shaun and Maxwell Lynn, the father and younger brother of Cadillac Hypercar driver Alex Lynn.