The 2023 24H SERIES powered by Hankook European calendar has been finalised with events at five different European venues.
Championship organisers CREVENTIC is set to return to three of its most popular European events once again in 2023 at Mugello in Italy, Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, and the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain.
In addition, the 24H SERIES will also be making a return to Monza in Italy and is preparing for its maiden event at the Autódromo do Estoril in Portugal, the latter of which will feature an exploratory ‘qualifying race’ format.
These events are in addition to the now well-established season-opening double header of the Hankook 24H DUBAI and the Hankook 6H ABU DHABI in January.
Alongside its European calendar of events, CREVENTIC is also finalizing a compact, Middle East Trophy, set to run during Europe’s motorsport off-season 2023/24.
The proposed Middle East Trophy builds on the 2022/2023 program set to commence with this year’s Hankook 12H KUWAIT on 1-2 December and continue with the two enduros in the UAE the following month.
Peter Freij, CREVENTIC operational event manager: “Our entire team is beyond thrilled to showcase the 24H SERIES powered by Hankook once again in 2023. We’re excited to be hosting some of our favourite European events at Mugello, Spa-Francorchamps, and Barcelona for at least another year, and are equally looking forward to strengthening new relationships with circuit management at Monza and Estoril, two of Europe’s most characterful racing venues. We haven’t forgotten fans of our Middle East events either, with the esteemed Hankook 24H DUBAI back for an 18th edition in January. This, plus the increasingly popular Hankook 6H ABU DHABI, we hope will serve as bedrock around which we will establish the Middle East Trophy.”
The Hankook 12H MUGELLO has been hosted every year bar one since 2014, and on all but one of those occasions has opened CREVENTIC’s European season, it will do so again on 25-26 March.
Round two of the European season takes the 24H SERIES to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on 6-7 May. The Hankook 12H SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, first held in 2017, made a return to CREVENTIC’s calendar for 2022 after a three-year hiatus.
One month later, the 24H SERIES journeys to Italy again for the Hankook 12H MONZA on 10-11 June. Hosted for the first time during a truncated 2020 season.
After the first of two summer breaks in 2023, the 24H SERIES makes its way to Estoril for the first time. Featuring a unique race format across the 7-8 July weekend.
In a first for the 24H SERIES, a six-hour ‘qualifying race’ will be held on Friday 7 July prior to the start of the Hankook 12H ESTORIL on Saturday 8 July. As well as providing additional track time, the 6H event, to be run uninterrupted, will determine the grid for the following day’s 12-hour endurance race.
A pre-determined number of pit stops will be mandatory during the 6H race, which will be concluded with podium celebrations. Entrants will also be awarded points, half that traditionally allocated during CREVENTIC’s 12-hour events, towards their European championship standings. The 24H SERIES’ conventional three-session Qualifying will be run as normal to determine the grid for the 6H qualifying race.
On 15-16-17 September, the 24H SERIES’ European season draws to a close at the 23rd Hankook 24H BARCELONA.
Three European events, the Hankook 12H MUGELLO, the Hankook 12H SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS and the Hankook 12H MONZA, will feature an ‘overnight intervention,’ allowing drivers and team personnel alike to rest during the night before endurance racing action resumes the following morning.
2023 Hankook 24H DUBAI, and 2023 / 2024 Middle East Trophy
The 2023 24H SERIES powered by Hankook action kicks off as usual with the Hankook 24H DUBAI.
CREVENTIC’s flagship 24-hour event, first held back in 2006, returns for its 18th edition on 13-14-15 January. Close to 90 entries have already been registered with three months still left to go before the green flag drops.
One week later, the Hankook 6H ABU DHABI will be held for the third consecutive year on 21-22 January.
The six-hour endurance race at Yas Marina Circuit is the season-closer for the 2022 / 2023 Middle East Trophy.
For 2023 / 2024, an extended Middle East Trophy, with the Hankook 24H DUBAI once again at its core, could encompass up to four different venues in the MENA region, and would sign-off with the coronation of new champions in Abu Dhabi. Teams and drivers from around the world are eligible to compete. More details will follow in the coming months.
