In a thrilling showdown at the Yas Marina Circuit, Inception Racing has claimed a sensational pole position for the prestigious Gulf 12 Hours, edging out fierce competitors Al Manar by Dragon in a nail-biting duel that showcased the power and precision of Ferrari. The team, consisting of drivers Brendan Iribe, Frederik Schandorff, and Ollie Millroy, blistered through the track in their No. 70 Ferrari 296 GT3, clocking an impressive combined time of 1:52.641. This victory was clinched by a razor-thin margin of just 0.079 seconds over the No. 77 Al Manar by Dragon, driven by the skilled trio of Ben Tuck, Al Faisal Al Zubair, and Chris Froggatt.
Despite not leading any of the individual sessions, the Inception Racing squad showcased their resilience, with Millroy unleashing a stunning lap of 1:52.371 late in the qualifying rounds. This blistering performance propelled them ahead of their rivals on average, securing the coveted pole position and setting the stage for what promises to be an electrifying race.
The competition was fierce, with the No. 81 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, driven by Rinat Salikhov, Marvin Dienst, and Gabriele Piana, securing a solid third place. Close behind, the second Winward entry, featuring Sergey Stolyarov, Daan Arrow, and Maro Engel, filled the fourth spot on the grid. Meanwhile, the No. 13 CapitalRT by Motopark Mercedes-AMG rounded out the top five, showcasing the depth of talent present in the race.
In the Pro-Am category, the No. 44 Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG, piloted by Sergio Pires, Marcel Zalloua, Jayden Ojeda, and Brendon Leitch, seized the pole position with a commendable seventh overall finish. The competition continued to heat up as the No. 2 Into Africa Racing by HAAS RT Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II positioned itself in eighth, just ahead of the No. 4 Grove Racing by GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG, which posted the fastest individual lap time of the day at 1:51.664, thanks to the driving prowess of Jules Gounon.
Completing the overall top ten was the No. 7 Herberth Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R, while Garage 59 made its mark in the GT3-Am category, clinching pole position with their No. 8 McLaren, finishing 13th overall.
As anticipation builds for the opening eight-hour segment of the Gulf 12 Hours, set to kick off Sunday at 9 a.m. local time (midnight ET), fans and competitors alike are poised for an unforgettable race filled with adrenaline, strategy, and fierce competition. This event not only promises high-speed action but also showcases the pinnacle of endurance racing, where every second counts and champions are made.
