Optimum Motorsport has confirmed that Joe Osborne, Flick Haigh and Ryan Ratcliffe will drive the team’s Audi R8 LMS in the Gulf 12 Hours this December at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Optimum, based in Wakefield, England, fielded the first new-generation customer Audi R8 LMS in rounds of the British GT Championship and 24H Series, alongside existing Ginetta GT4 and GT5 programmes and a one-off outing in the Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup.
“The Gulf 12 Hours has been an event we’ve all been looking forward to returning to,” said team principal Shaun Goff. “Having run to a second place in the GT4 class in 2013 with Joe (Osborne) and Ryan (Ratcliffe), we’re certainly hopeful of more silverware. A Pro Am class win is our objective, especially as Flick (Haigh) has really grown in confidence.
“Ryan really enjoys driving the Audi and, given he has competed at Yas Marina on two occasions, he will be fast from the off. Our eyes will also be drawn to the overall win, but factory teams are known for fielding all-Pro line-ups. We love a challenge, though!”
It was in the GT3 Le Mans Cup at Circuit Paul Ricard that Osborne, Haigh and Ratcliffe last collaborated, but the teammates have also been particularly potent while racing for Optimum Motorsport in the 24H Series.
The 2017 Gulf 12 Hours is set to run from the 15-17 of December in Abu Dhabi.
