Round 1 - Race Report
Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi. Saturday 28 October 2023.
Gulf ProCar 2023/24 got underway this weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit which is in full preparation for the Formula 1 race scheduled for end November. Still a few weeks away from the lovely temperate climate of the UAE winter, weather conditions were predictable hot which some drivers found difficult to cope with. Not so usual for the time of the year was the torrential rain on Thursday evening causing an early stop to the Dragon Test Day open pitlane test.
But from Friday morning onwards all was back to normal and the usual activities continued with as always, and one of the major attractions of the Gulf ProCar, the great amount of testing time available, with another three hours of testing on in the morning and the exclusive test session in the afternoon.
With the season opener on the iconic Yas Marine Circuit 5.2-kilometre Grand Prix lay-out entries were below expectations.
Following the move from Hankook last season, Gulf ProCar this season operate Pirelli as control tyre for all classes, except Class RC which hosts Renault Clio to run on Michelin. New in the regulations is that wet tyres will be allowed, the brand of this will be free.
In the second part of previous Gulf ProCar season RKC - Autotech Garage entered a second Honda (EP3) on which duties were split between Jonathan Mullan and Mark Simmons besides regular Ricky Coomber who competed in his Honda FD2. Ricky opted for this season to start with his Honda DC5 with the plans to enter a different machine later in the season. He was the only entry in Class 5 but while facing some technical gremlins was able to finish both races, the second one only with fourth gear available.
Also, gremlins for the usually very reliable team Rowe Oil Trackdays who entered one of their Toyota GT86 for new driver in the championship Ahmed Al Khaja who takes up Gulf ProCar to gain experience and with the other objective in mind which is getting his international race licence. Because of technical issues he had to sit out race 1 and when it became clear the issues were not solved for the second race fellow competitor Avik Anwar, who entered in his usual VR1 Racing Toyota GT86, offered his spare car to Ahmed who was able to start and finish the second race.
Avik had his own problems but managed to score valuable points by winning both races.
Third driver in the Class 4 was the RKC - Autotech Garage entered Honda EP3 for another new driver Krishna Redy Pasil who got the grips on what car racing is as the weekend went on.
Another new driver in the championship is Keith Gatehouse racing the very impressive Mercedes AMG GT4 in GPM Racing colours and run by Dragon Racing. Class 3 is the class which typically hosts GT4 cars and the American driver was well aware that he would battle an uphill fight in a very competitive class with experienced drivers but this is also something which is in line with his ambitions. His constant improving lap times showed the potential.
Other Class 3 entry is Vasily Vladykin who participated a few races last year in his Continental Team Renault Clio showing his speed and for this season he made, again with Continental, the logical step to a faster car racing a brand-new Toyota Supra GT4 Evo with the technical support of TTR. Vasily was seen on several European tracks in a very active summer gaining as much experience as possible resulting in a dominant day winning both races in Class 3.
Fights for overall podium places and victory were going to be for the fastest cars on the start grid which turned out to be between three Dragon Racing drivers. Khaled Al Marzouq and Jan Sandmann both entered their Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo whilst Ian Roberts raced again in his Praga.
Both Ferrari drivers participated in a few races last season but for this year are hoping to be able to do the full season and the Praga driver has the same intentions.
Pole position for race one went to Khaled Al Marzouq but for the second race (where the second fastest time of qualifying counts) was for Ian Roberts.
But when the lights turned green it was for both races Khaled Al Marzouq who took control and gradually built a steady lead whilst the other two competitors have a splendid fight having similar laps times and on both occasions where not a lot more than a one second separated at the finish line.
Class RC saw Alex Renner entering a brand-new Clio which he took delivery two days before the racing in his own team ARMotors. EBCX Motorsport had two cars for Charlotte Simmonds and James Greenwood. Each team worked through their own testing programme to prepare for the race which was hampered for James by a fuel pressure issue which made it a difficult weekend for him. Alex took a clear victory in race 1 but it was second placed Charlotte who claimed quickest lap of the race. James took third place on the podium.
Second race resulted in the same finishing order only difference that Renner was more dominant taking besides victory also quickest race lap.
Next round with be in two weeks on 11 November at Dubai Autodrome.
