Porsche customer team Lionspeed GP has set its driver line-up for the 2024 Gulf 12 Hours later this month. Team principal Patrick Kolb will be joined at the Yas Marina Circuit by team debutants Kyle Tilley, Gabriel Rindone and Bashar Mardini.
The quartet will share the team’s Porsche 911 GT3 R 992 for the team’s first appearence in the Driving Force-run event since 2022.
Tilley, born in the United Kingdom but currently based near Indianapolis in the United States, is best known as the driving force behind the American Era Motorsport team. His CV is headlined by an LMP2 class win with the Era team in the 2021 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Rindone meanwhile, is one of the team’s two Bronze-rated drivers. He has been racing for several years and joins Lionspeed after gaining significant experience racing Lamborghini machinery in a variety of series including GT World Challenge Europe, the Asian Le Mans Series and Intercontinental GT Challenge.
Fellow Bronze driver, Mardini, is equally well-versed and travelled. He has competed in everything from Porsche Cup cars to GT3 and even LMP3. Most recently, he raced a Porsche 911 GT3 R in International GT Open, made his 24 Hours of Spa debut last year and came close to winning the Pro-Am title in Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East.
The race will serve as the final chapter of Lionspeed GP’s debut season as an independent GT racing outfit. During its first season operating without external support, the team enjoyed success in the Nürburgring 24 with a Pro-Am class win, reached the finish line in the centenary edition of the 24 Hours of Spa and captured a class podium in GT World Challenge Europe’s Bronze Cup class.
The 2024 running of the Gulf 12 Hours is set to take place on December 15th. The race itself will be split into two parts.
Image courtesy of Lionspeed GP
