The grid for the 2025 Gulf 12 Hours is beginning to come together, with the 22 teams set to participate in the GT3 class having been confirmed by organiser Driving Force Events.
Four-time winner AF Corse is the only former victor on the entry, with 2024 winner Saintéloc Racing not returning to defend its title.
Last year, Saintéloc’s Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II was beaten on the road by Optimum Motorsport, but pit lane speeding penalties dropped the British team’s McLaren GT3 Evo down to second place at the checkered flag. Optimum is returning this year, entering under both its name and the Inception Racing banner.
Inception Racing, which is making its debut at the event, is one of five teams to have unveiled its driver line-up so far.
The team’s Ferrari 296 GT3 will be piloted by Inception’s regular IMSA Sportscar Championship crew of Brendan Iribe, Ollie Millory and Frederik Schandorff, who have competed together since 2021. It is the first time Inception will run its Ferrari, which it debuted last year, outside of North America.
Also debuting are Pellin Racing, which has entered the #27 Ferrari for Lisa Clark, Marc Muzzo, Kyle Marcelli and Jeff Mestphal, and Tigani Motorsport, with a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo for Brendon Leitch and its GT World Challenge Australia regulars Jayden Ojeda, Sergio Pires and Marcel Zalloua.
“We’re really looking forward to having Brendon as part of the Tigani line-up at the Gulf 12 Hours,” said Tigani Motorsport Team Owner Nathan Tigani.
“He’s been one of the top Pro drivers to watch in GT World Challenge Australia, and we’ve seen enough to know he’ll fit right into the team and be quick straight away. Alongside Sergio, Marcel, and Jayden, we’re pretty excited about our chances of going to Abu Dhabi and coming home with some trophies.
Tsunami RT will be represented by its International GT Open pairing of Johannes Zelger and Fabio Babini, who will share its Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) with Davide Scannicchio and Daniel Gaunt.
GetSpeed Performance, meanwhile, has an unchanged driver line-up compared to last year, with Stephen and Brenton Grove teaming up with Jules Gounon in a Mercedes-AMG for the second consecutive edition.
Adam Osieka, GetSpeed CEO and Team Principal, commented: “Partnering with Grove Racing for the Gulf 12 Hours is a perfect fit. Together we’re ready to take on Abu Dhabi with full commitment.”
2024 class winners Garage 59 and Herberth Motorsport are both set to return, as are former class winners such as Car Collection Motorsport, Dragon Racing and Greystone GT.
Al Manar by Dragon, Baron Motorsport, Capital RT by Motopark, Fulgenzi Racing, HaasRT, Lionspeed GP, MP Racing, Razoon – more than Racing, TFT Racing and Winward Racing complete the GT3 entry list.
Further details, such as the number of cars each team will be fielding, what machinery they will be running, and entries into the new-for-2025 GT1X1 class for one-make GT machinery, are yet to be announced.
We do however know that the 22-team GT3 entry totals 24 cars, and the five brands represented in the class are Audi, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche.
The 2025 Gulf 12 Hours will be held at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi on 14th December 2025
Images courtesy of Gulf 12 Hours
