Heart of Racing Continues SPS Partnership for 24H Dubai

The Heart of Racing will continue its partnership with SPS Automotive Performance for the Hankook 24H Dubai.

As part of the tie-up, the team’s single Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo will run at Dubai under the ‘Heart of Racing by SPS’ banner, like it did this year.

The partnership between Ian James’ Heart of Racing stable and the SPS operation, led by Stefan Sohn, was first established for last year’s Dubai enduro as a means for Bronze-rated driver Gray Newell to step up to GT3 competition.

Newell, along with James, Roman de Angelis and Ross Gunn, finished eighth overall in the event, before contesting two further Hankook 24H Series rounds at Mugello and Spa-Francorchamps.

For its second appearance at Dubai, the team has incorporated IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup signing Mario Farnbacher into the lineup, driving alongside the returning James, Newell and De Angelis.

It will mark Farnbacher’s appearance behind the wheel of Mercedes-AMG machinery since 2017.

“We are very happy to continue our partnership with Heart of Racing in 2024,” SPS team principal Sohn said.

“The 24H Dubai is the first of several projects planned for next year. The 24H Dubai is always a welcome start to the season.

“I think we have created a good package for the season opener. But the competition is very strong this time with around 30 GT3 cars and the traffic with over 70 cars doesn’t make it any easier.

“But we are optimistic that we can show a good performance in Dubai.”