Audi Leads as 24H Dubai Gets Underway

Photo: John Dagys

Audi has shown the early advantage the Hankook 24 Hours of Dubai, with the German manufacturer out front with one hour complete in the around-the-clock Middle Eastern enduro.

The No. 14 Optimum Motorsport Audi R8 LMS of Joe Osborne leads the way, following the first round of pit stops for the majority of the A6 competitors.

Audi was out front from the green, with pole-sitter Christer Jons in the C.Abt entry leading a R8 LMS freight-train of Christopher Mies (Land), Laurens Vanthoor (WRT) and Osborne (Optimum).

The race has already seen a Code 60, following a three-car accident between the Xavier Maassen-driven No. 78 MRS-GT Racing Porsche 911 Cup Car and the No. 105 Seat and No. 282 Ginetta.

Maassen, co-driving with Americans Joe Foster, Charles Espenlaub and Charlie Putman, clobbered the styrofoam brake markers in Turn 1, leading to lengthy cleanup. Heavy damage was sustained to all three cars.

The race returned to green with 9 minutes remaining in the first hour.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John