Drama Strikes Both HRT Cars

Haupt Racing Team’s hopes of success at the Hankook 24H Dubai have fallen apart after both of its cars were eliminated from contention in quick succession shortly before six hours were completed.

First, the No. 4 Abu Dhabi Racing by HRT Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo was taken out when Sebastian Baud hit the barrier at turn 14 and the car burst into flames, with Baud quickly calling for marshalls to put the fire out.

Baud had been able to climb out of the car himself and was taken to the on-site medical center to be checked.

The car, one of the favorites for victory coming into the event, had fallen down the order somewhat since the early hours and was running outside of the top ten when the incident occurred.

Less than an hour later, the remaining No. 777 Al Manar Racing Mercedes also capitulated when Luca Stolz brought the car into the garage with an unspecified technical issue.

The car had started the race from pole position with Stolz leading the race early on and had just moved into fourth place overall not long before the problem struck.

While HRT has seen its effort halted, Team WRT are leading the race 1-2 with six hours completed.

Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer is out front aboard the No. 7 BMW M4 GT3, sitting ahead of the No. 46 car in the hands of Sean Gelael.

WRT captured first place from the No. 21 HAAS RT Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II. The upstart Belgian team sat at the head of the race since Tresor Attempto Racing pitted off sequence, a consequence of the chaotic round of Code 60-triggered stops in the opening phase of the race.

Once Olivier Bertels was behind the wheel of the Audi, he was caught and overtaken by Jens Klingmann, who extended the car’s advantage further before handing over to Simmenauer.

WRT’s No. 46 BMW survived a scare in the third hour of the race, when oil on the track surface caused Tim Whale to spin out into the barriers. The Bronze-rated driver was able to continue without major damage.

Behind the two BMWs, the No. 91 Herberth Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R of Robert Renauer sits in third, with HAAS RT now fourth with Benjamin Mazatis at the wheel of the Audi.

Pure Rxcing rounds out the top five ahead of second Herberth Porsche and Poulsen Motorsport’s BMW.

The No. 99 Tresor Attempto Audi, which led after the first hour, was eliminated from contention when Andrey Mukovoz brought it to a halt on track, triggering another Code 60.

The GT4 class lead remains in the hands of the No. 408 ROFGO with Dragon Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 in the hands of Jordan Grogor, while AC Motorsport’s No. 188 Audi RS3 LMS TCR sits at the head of the TCR category.