AL HARTHY CLAIMS PODIUM SPOT IN BRUISING ABU DHABI ALMS FINALE
Pre-event points leader Al Harthy just misses ALMS title at Yas Marina
Omani stars in qualifying to claim dominant double pole for Rd 4&5
Race one damage and retirement takes LMP2 battle down to wire
Newly built replacement car not quite at the races in Rd 5 finale
ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit brought a frustrating end to an otherwise sparkling Asian Le Mans Series campaign for Ahmad al Harthy over the weekend, February 10/11, with the Omani and 99 Racing team-mate Louis Deletraz concluding the five-round season third in the LMP2 title battle.
Going into the final event of the campaign leading the standings by 20 points, Al Harthy got things off to a perfect start in the No 99 Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 car by dominating qualifying, 0.8 seconds faster than anyone, securing a memorable double pole position for rounds four and five.
Race one was nothing short of luckless, with surprising lap one contact spinning Al Harthy out of the lead. Mounting a rousing recovery, more dramas then undid the Omani’s stirring drive and heavy damage sustained during an incident behind the Safety Car led to a devastating retirement.
Following incredible work by 99 Racing overnight and throughout Sunday morning, and with thanks to the AF Corse team from whom a new Oreca tub was acquired, Al Harthy lined-up on pole position for round five – he and Deletraz now three points adrift in the title battle.
Even though having to serve a debatable drive-through penalty early on, ordered by officials as a result of the race-ending incident the day prior, Al Harthy performed strongly in the opening stint. In the end, though, the car couldn’t deliver the performance required and Al Harthy, Deletraz and Filipe Albuquerque – standing in for the unwell Nikita Mazepin – finished in 11th position.
“What an unbelievable turn of events this weekend,” said a shocked Al Harthy, “After qualifying, where I was so happy with the car and my performance, we really were in a strong position and in the perfect place to try and maximise our potential. What happened in the two races was quite incredible, but we still end the season P3 in the championship and with a couple of wins as well.”
TOUGH CONCLUSION
Having performed so faultlessly in qualifying on Saturday morning, Al Harthy relished the opening race later in the day and the team had a genuine chance of wrapping-up the ALMS title with one round to spare. Unfortunately, this was where the weekend’s fortunes changed dramatically.
Starting the four-hour encounter well, the Omani led away nicely but into Turn 12 he was tagged by the car of Salih Yoluc and pitched off track. Plummeting down the order as the entire field swept by, the 99 Racing entry rejoined stone last. Producing a superb recovery drive, Al Harthy stormed back through sensationally and was sixth in LMP2 within just 20 minutes of action.
The momentum was impacted by an unlucky penalty, but Al
Harthy was undaunted and reeled off stunning laps to climb into fourth before his first scheduled stop. Rejoining 13th in LMP2, he climbed back up to fifth with 90 minutes elapsed. Then everything went awry under a Safety Car period.
As the train headed into Turn One, a GT car braked unnecessarily heavily which caused a concertina effect and led to the No 91 Porsche spinning in avoidance, with Al Harthy unable to avoid. Causing immense damage, retirement was instantaneous.
It was soon determined the car was beyond repair at the track but, after acquiring a replacement tub from AF Corse, the 99 Racing crew worked flat-out throughout the night and during Sunday morning to get a car ready for the erstwhile leaders.
Adding salt to the wound, though, pole-starter Al Harthy was ordered he would have to serve a stop-go penalty early in the race.
Again leading away from pole as he had the day before, the Omani put together an excellent first lap in an unfamiliar and untested car before the Safety Car was deployed due to multiple collisions.
“The guys at the team worked so, so hard this weekend and the effort everyone put in overnight on Saturday to make sure we could even get onto the grid for Sunday’s race was amazing,” reflected Al Harthy, “Huge thank you to everyone and, of course, to Louis, Filipe and Nikita who have been great to work with. Abu Dhabi wasn’t the weekend we wanted, to say the least, but we can still be proud of all we’ve achieved in the ALMS.”