Driving Force Events, the promotor of the Gulf 12 Hours, has released a statement confirming the 2024 date for the middle-eastern endurance race at the Yas Marina Circuit and its plans for the future.
The primary intention of the statement is to end speculation surrounding its previously confirmed calendar slot next year of December 15th. Driving Force Events says the event will go ahead as planned in 2024, despite the recent development that the proposed date falls on the weekend after the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship season finale at the same venue.
“In response to speculation following the recently announced 2024 Formula 1 calendar, promoter Driving Force Events wishes to clarify the situation and confirm a stable long-term future for the Gulf 12 Hours, consolidating it as the premier GT competition in the Middle East,” the statement reads.
“This year’s edition of the Gulf 12 Hours will take place as scheduled on 10 December. It is set to feature a capacity grid of GT3 cars and again counts as the final round of the SRO’s Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) season.
“A logistics plan has been developed to allow next year’s Gulf 12 Hours to take place on Sunday 15 December 2024, maintaining an attractive and efficient date for competitors despite the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix taking place shortly before, on 8 December.”
Driving Force Events then goes on to address the event’s future as a standalone pro/am event.
This year the Gulf 12 Hours features as the finale of the Intercontinental GT Challenge as part of a multi-year agreement with the SRO which is coming to an end. Next year the IGTC has a new-look calendar which currently features just four races and no planned visit to the Gulf region.
“Driving Force Event’s two-year agreement with SRO regarding IGTC eligibility will terminate at the end of this year, after the 2023 edition of the Gulf 12 Hours,” the statement explains.
“The presence of a select group of IGTC entrants within the already strong Gulf 12 Hours brought new attention to the event and the positive collaboration with SRO motivated everyone within the Driving Force Events organisation to reach new standards.
“However, Driving Force Events has always intended to consolidate the Gulf 12 Hours as the world’s top pro/am endurance race. In line with this objective, an internal decision was reached several months ago not to seek a place on the IGTC calendar for 2024 and beyond.
“Going forward, the focus of the Gulf 12 Hours will be to deliver the best opportunities for pro/am driver line-ups, rather than the all-pro crews typical of IGTC. This strategic decision has already been validated through team and manufacturer feedback and commitments.
“Driving Force Events intends to maintain strong relations with SRO and looks forward to constructive cooperation together for a memorable 12th Gulf 12 Hours at Yas Marina Circuit and a fitting 2023 IGTC season finale.”
