Prost: “It’s going to be very much about survival here”
Nico Prost believes survival, traffic management and mental resilience will be decisive factors in this weekend’s Michelin 24 Hours of Dubai, as he prepares for another appearance at an event he says continues to grow in stature year on year.
Prost described Dubai as an event he “really enjoys doing,” pointing to the increasing scale and polish of the meeting, while noting that early running with his team and the car has been encouraging.
Despite optimism around performance, Prost was clear that expectations must be tempered by the realities of a 24-hour race, particularly with a relatively new car package.
The focus, he said, is on keeping the car intact through the opening phases rather than chasing outright pace.
“It’s going to be very much about survival here. The car is quite new, so we just hope it stays together, no scratches, and we see where we are at the end.”
The emphasis reflects a broader paddock mindset at Dubai, where finishing cleanly through the night often proves more valuable than early aggression.
Prost highlighted Dubai Autodrome’s suitability for endurance racing, citing good lighting and ample overtaking opportunities, but stressed that traffic density remains the defining challenge.
With more than 60 cars expected on track across multiple classes, Prost warned that drivers must remain constantly aware of both faster and slower traffic.
McIntosh’s Momentum, Double Duty & Late Call-Up
Anthony McIntosh arrives at the Michelin 24 Hours of Dubai carrying strong momentum from the opening round of the Middle East Trophy, and with one of the more unusual workloads in the paddock this weekend.
McIntosh confirmed that his 2026 season effectively began last weekend at Abu Dhabi, where he claimed second place, describing it as some of the strongest driving of his career.
The American pointed to consistency across the turn of the year as a confidence boost, having finished second in the final race of 2025 at Sepang, followed immediately by another runner-up result in Abu Dhabi.
“The last race of the year, I took second; the first race of the year, I took second. So it ended and started pretty good.”
He credited both team performance and execution across long stints, particularly highlighting a strong race start and maximising the potential of the car.
While this marks McIntosh’s first start in the Dubai 24 Hours, he is not unfamiliar with the venue, having raced at the Autodrome previously in Asian competition.
He described the circuit as flowing and technical, though admitted a personal preference for Abu Dhabi’s layout.
One of the more striking revelations from the paddock was McIntosh’s late addition to a second GT3 entry, following a call from teammate Darren Leung little more than a week before the event.
McIntosh explained that the decision was finalised rapidly, with minimal lead time and little formal preparation.
“I didn’t even know who our teammates were. He said, ‘Don’t worry about it, just show up.’”
As a result, McIntosh will contest two GT3 cars this weekend, one with Paradine Competition and one with Team WRT, making him one of the few drivers on the grid undertaking double duty.
Despite the ambitious programme, McIntosh downplayed the total driving time, estimating around eight hours in total across both entries.
He acknowledged the physical demand of such a schedule but appeared relaxed about the challenge.
“Eight hours for anyone in a 24-hour race is probably a lot… but happy days.”
Engel talks Traffic, Code 60s and a Wide-Open Fight
Winward Racing’s Maro Engel believes traffic management, Code 60 timing and simply reaching the finish will define the outcome of this weekend’s Michelin 24 Hours of Dubai, as he prepares for another start at what he describes as one of the most demanding endurance races on the calendar.
Engel said preparations have progressed smoothly so far, with the team and drivers settling in quickly and the car showing encouraging form ahead of the race.
Engel highlighted multi-class traffic as the defining challenge of the Dubai 24 Hours, comparing the experience to endurance racing at the Nürburgring Nordschleife rather than a conventional circuit.
“The challenge is the amount of cars and the different classes. We don’t really have that anywhere else.”
With wide variations in pace and experience across the field, Engel stressed that decision-making in traffic will be as important as outright speed, particularly during the night and early morning phases.
Despite strong early signs from the car, Engel cautioned against drawing conclusions from qualifying pace alone, suggesting the true competitive picture will only emerge once the race settles into long-run rhythm.
“Getting to the finish is probably the biggest one.”
He added that the team’s priority is maximising its overall package while avoiding unnecessary risk, accepting that clean execution often outweighs peak performance over 24 hours.
Engel pointed to Dubai’s unique strategic demands, particularly the influence of Code 60 interventions combined with long fuel stop durations.
“The amount of time you spend at the fuel station here is larger than any other endurance race.”
As a result, the timing and distribution of Code 60 periods could significantly alter the competitive order, even among front-running cars.
Asked about the competitive picture, Engel identified Team WRT as an obvious benchmark following last year’s victory but warned that the field is deep.
He expects around ten cars to have a realistic chance of fighting for the overall win, reinforcing the view that Dubai remains one of the least predictable endurance races of the season.
Monteiro: Dubai 24 “getting more and more serious
Former touring car and endurance racer, as well as one-time F1 podium visitor, Tiago Monteiro is attending the Michelin 24 Hours of Dubai for the first time, describing the event as one that has undergone a significant transformation in recent years.
Monteiro is in Dubai primarily to visit KCMG, a sponsor partner linked to his son Noah’s racing programme, with the team running a two-car Toyota effort at this weekend’s event.
Although familiar with the race by reputation, Monteiro said he had been struck by the level of professionalism now present across the paddock.
“A few years back this was more of a fun race, with a lot of amateurs. Now it’s getting more and more serious.”
Monteiro believes the Dubai 24 Hours has, over the last three to four years, grown into a race that can be compared with major European endurance events in terms of competitiveness and team quality.
Monteiro also commented on the dramatic development surrounding Dubai Autodrome, noting the contrast with his previous visit to the area in the late 2000s.
He recalled that the circuit was once surrounded by open land, whereas it now sits amid dense urban development and skyscrapers, a visual reflection, he suggested, of how the event itself has grown.
Monteiro described Dubai as an ideal way to begin the motorsport year, particularly for drivers and teams transitioning into a long international season.
“It’s a great event to start the year like this.”
His comments echo a broader paddock sentiment that Dubai has become an important early-season reference point for endurance and GT programmes.
Away from the immediate on-track action, Monteiro confirmed that his son Noah Monteiro will continue in Italian Formula 4, returning with the same team after a strong rookie campaign that saw him finish as second-best rookie and eighth overall in the championship.
Monteiro said the plan is for Noah to step into a leadership role within the team while also exploring additional programmes to broaden his experience, with meetings scheduled in London next week.
Images courtesy of 24H Series; Paradine Competition
