Dunlop Dubai 24 Hours – Free Practice 2 Report
Kox Lets The Reiter Lambo Off The Leash

67 cars took part in the first Free Practice session, but the remainder still had 90 minutes in the mid-afternoon in which to prepare for qualifying. Actually, 85 minutes following a five-minute delay at the start.

The most important development of the day is that DSC now finally (almost) understands the laptime rule, thanks to AF Corse’s Matt Griffin. Essentially, every class has a table that determines the consequence (weight, ride-height, fuel) of running at a particular race-laptime. Having decided on a race pace, each team must then qualify within the corresponding qualifying range – for example, a 2:03 race time may equate to a 2:02-2:03 qualifying range. If this qualifying time is exceeded, then the corresponding race time and penalties for the time will apply.

“The biggest variable is the fuel,” said Griffin. “The weight and ride-height penalties aren’t too significant, but you can lose a lot of time at a fuel stop; so if you’re making more than your competitors you’ll be losing out.” How long does a fuel-stop take? “Three laps under green conditions, a third of a lap under a Code 60.”

Nico Pronk was the early session leader in the #25 Reiter Lambo, with Edward Sandström taking over in the #1 Saudi Falcons/Schubert  Z4 soon afterwards; but it wasn’t until the halfway point that Mika Vahamaki set a time that was quicker than FP1 – 2:03.118 in the #29 rhino’s Leipert LP600.

Making good progress not very far behind was Alex Popow in the #36 United Autosports Audi R8 LMS, the Venezuelan quickly trimming two seconds off the car’s FP1 time and then finding a further eight-tenths before handing over to Ryan Dalziel.  

The #27 VDS Racing Adventures Ford Mustang led SP2 with 25 minutes remaining, after setting a 2:09.536 – four seconds faster than its FP1 time and the fastest class time of the day by more than a second – with the GT3 Racing Viper second in class.

GT3 team owner Craig Wilkins is back for his third Dubai 24, so what is it about the event that brings him back? “Well, a few years ago we spent a fortune going winter testing in Spain. We didn’t learn much, and were testing in conditions that we wouldn’t encounter again during the season. By coming here, the ‘gentleman’ racer in particular – who otherwise would face four/five months away from the track – can get plenty of track time in a nice atmosphere.”

How does he see the event?

“When I first came, it was basically ‘Britcar in the sun’; a well-run event for the amateur racer. Last time, the level of competition was raised, and this year it’s like a Blancpain Endurance Series test.”

 Third was the #100 RJN Nissan 370Z, which had had a trouble-free run so far in Dubai; “This car is a little underpowered in the SP2 class,” admitted team owner Bob Neville. “Both of our cars have 3.8ltr engines, but the Playstation Champions car is 50kg lighter and has slightly bigger brakes than the #120.”

2011 US GT Academy winner Bryan Heitkotter is not at all fazed by the heat out in Dubai, nor by the task in hand; “The part of California I’m from is hotter than this during the summer, although it’s more humid here,” he said. “We’ve been doing some time in the heat chamber in preparation for the race – basically, they lock us in a box at 38 degrees (Celsius) and get us to run or work-out for an hour – and I’ve done hundreds of laps of the circuit on the simulator.”

How was he finding the circuit, now that he’d actually got to drive it? “I like it more than I thought I would, particularly the complex after the first turn. I only did four laps during the test yesterday, but it left a good impression.”

The second RJN 370Z was in second place in SP3, just behind the green and purple #888 Red Camel-Jordans.nl Audi R8. The #40 Besaplast Porsche continued to lead the 997 class by a country mile.

With just six minutes to go, Peter Kox suddenly grabbed everyone’s attention by scorching the circuit in a completely unexpected 1:59.716; two seconds faster than Rob Barff’s time on Wednesday and a pace that would automatically attract the maximum penalties if repeated during qualifying. A more sensible 2:03.052 from Tomas Enge shortly afterwards moved the #15 Gravity Racing SLS AMG GT3 up to second place.

“We wanted to see what the potential is of the new Reiter Engineering Lamborghini,” said Kox. “It looks okay.”

Mark Patterson ended the session with several improvements in the #26 Audi R8 GT3 LMS and both United Autosports cars finished in the top ten ahead of qualifying; which would follow just 15 minutes after FP2 ended.

MH