The Gulf 12 Hours organisers have confirmed pole position for Team Abu Dhabi by Black Falcon drivers Khaled Al Qubaisi, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Bernd Schneider. Initially classified as second in the overall standings after four qualifying sessions the team was promoted to pole position after the #12 Kessel Racing Ferrari was penalized.
Giacomo Piccini and Thomas Kemenater were the overall fastest on average lap times, but with their teammate Kola Aluko not able to make it to the Yas Marina Circuit in time for qualifying the car was excluded from qualifying and therefore lost its pole position. In fact the team has been told it cannot take the start tomorrow morning as a minimum of three drivers are required for each car and with Aluko not able to race the team will not meet those requirements.
Several other teams have hit problems today, which could result in no fewer than four cars that were initially entered being forced out before the start of the first race. Guglielmo Belotti parked his Wolf GB08 during the second session with an engine problem. A late statement by the Gulf 12 Hours organisers confirmed that the team might have to withdraw the car, which had been the fastest in the CN class when it suffered problems.
Another teams that hit serious problems was the rhino’s Leipert Motorsport squad. In practice the Lamborghini suffered an engine failure and the team has not been able to fix the problem here in Abu Dhabi. The garage doors have been shut and Isaac Tutumlu meanwhile confirmed the team has withdrawn its car from the event.
At MRS GT Racing there were problems with the gearbox of the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 of Webb, Serralles and Venema. At the time DSC left the circuit the team was still working on the car, trying to fix the problem and make sure the car is ready to compete in the Gulf 12 Hours. They will have until 9.30am local time to fix it.
Marcel ten Caat (@dsceuroeditor)
