WEC star Hartley helps Porsche to Dubai win

Former World Endurance champion Brendon Hartley took his first win in a 24-hour race last weekend with victory in the Dubai 24 Hours.

The Porsche LMP1 driver was part of a Herberth Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3-R quintet that eventually won by two laps. The Kiwi shared the car with Robert and Alfred Renauer, Ralf Bohn and Daniel Allemann.

“It was an awesome experience, the first time for me in a 911,” said Hartley. “I had a great team, great team-mates. Hopefully that form will continue on to the WEC.”

Manthey’s identical Porsche was second and originally fought for the lead until it sustained damage in the 16th hour.

British squad Optimum Motorsport’s Audi was fourth overall, while the team’s Ginetta G55 crew of Stewart Linn, Ade Barwick, Dan O’brien and Will Moore won the SP3-GT4 class.

Further back, the Audi RS3 LMS car won the TCR category on its debut with veteran touring car driver James Kaye along with Julian Griffin, Erik Holstein and Finlay Hutchison at the wheel.

In the Prototype support races, Optimum’s Ginetta G57 of Barwick, Bradley Ellis, Kyle Masson and James French won the second of three three-hour contests.