Record 34 GT3 Cars on Provisional Gulf 12H Entry List

Photo: Gulf 12H

A record 34 GT3 cars are on the provisional entry list for the 12th edition of the Gulf 12 Hours, which will close out the Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli season on Dec. 11.

Released on Saturday, the around-the-clock enduro at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi has attracted a capacity grid, with additional GT3 cars currently waitlisted.

The entry list features cars from six manufacturers, with Ferrari the most represented at ten 488 GT3 Evo 2020s provisionally entered, including five from AF Corse.

Kessel Racing, the most successful team in Gulf 12H history, meanwhile, has four Ferraris on the list, with last year’s winner 2 Seas Motorsport having a pair of Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evos entered as it seeks its third overall win in the event.

Audi stalwarts Attempto Racing and Sainteloc Racing each have two cars apiece, while Century Motorsport currently has the only BMW M4 GT3 entered.

However, newly signed 2024 BMW Hypercar squad WRT has lodged two entries for the race, with its GT3 model yet-to-be-confirmed.

The Belgian squad is understood to be likely switching to BMWs in GT3 competition next year and could use the Gulf 12H as a warmup for the 2023 season.

Mercedes-AMG is the second most-represented brand on the entry list, with entries from the aforementioned 2 Seas, plus GruppeM Racing, Craft Bamboo Racing, MP Racing, Ram Racing and SPS automotive performance, which will include a car for full-season IGTC entrant SunEnergy1 Racing.

Garage 59, Optimum Motorsport and Greystone GT are slated to line up with McLaren 720S GT3s, while Herberth Motorsport, Earl Bamber Motorsport and Saalocin Racing are intending to run Porsche 911 GT3 Rs.

A final entry list, which will feature Porsche 911 GT3 Cup entrants and more GT3 cars, will be published at the end of the month.

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