Dunlop Dubai 24 Hours – JW’s Hours 13, 14 & 15 Round-Up
Numbers

It is worth reviewing where we are in terms of not only the positions but also podium battles. It is a significant juncture for it as effectively the night is gradually coming to a close. It is the approach of “happy hour”—a moment where we may see some fast laps, augmented by the need to watch your “bracket times” in A6. The overall and A6 class remains the most fluid, with the usual suspects all in contention. The pit stops are nearly in sequence for BMW #1 and the #6 SLS, while the #3 Mercedes has slight stop pattern tempo in their favor. Two factors should play out between them—the lesser issue is that of judicious use of Joker cards—although any time advantage will likely only play in a wheel-to-wheel fight. The more important question is whether the two Mercedes can bend their slightly better fuel economy to advantage—they would have to have at least one and preferably two stop benefit. Rene de Boer reports that Jeroen Bleekemolen thinks that will be the case. The Joker metaphor is appropriate as the overall / A6 podium will undoubtedly be shuffled several times in the remaining 6-7 hours.

As for those waiting in the wings there are two cars with a reasonable chance to move up if any of the top three falter. These are the #18 Fach Auto Tech entry, the best of the Porsches and the #20 Heico Merc.

The 997 class is effectively set in stone barring of course the always possible disasters. It is Carworld (#41) over Besaplast (#40) and Förch (#44). The other Förch entry is next but out of the running. SP3 is perhaps the most intriguing contest below the overall fight. The Optimum Ginetta continues to lead but has only a few short laps in hand over the #23 BMW. Both have been very steady for several hours now. The JR BMW has stabilized in third, a few laps back. But it is under threat from another Ginetta, the #115 Track Torque entry which has gradually moved up during the night.

The SP2 class has had some drama. The Equipe Verschuur-run Los Moras quasi-Renault-ish car had long led the class but lost the spot when it ran out of fuel and was aided back to the pits, coughing and wheezing. The slower but rather untroubled Mustang has traded the lead with the Megane-like machine. Although somewhat further back the third in SP2 car is a nice story. It is the #100 Nissan, at long last running cleanly. The currently 4th and 5th place cars are close enough to each other to be podium contenders given the volatility of the class. Both are true red-white-blue American iron cars. These are the #110 Corvette (entered by Guttroff and run by Bonk) and on-again off-again Viper. The Vette has had one long shaft related issue but otherwise is doing well.

The top two spots in A2 have remained quite steady for the entire night. The #80 German Mini has held a major lead over the Emirati Honda.   There is a truly tight battle for the last podium spot between the other SIG Motorsport Mini (#81) and the Marcos BMW diesel with its Problems! and Damned Yankee Driver. A2 is a completely done deal. There are only two cars and the #51 130i Cup is far enough ahead that even it were to stop now it would take hours for the #50 Küpper to catch up.

Janos Wimpffen