Dunlop Dubai 24 Hours – Final Hour Report
Drama To The End As Black Falcon Takes The Win

Unbelievably, we’re into the final 60 minutes; and for probably the first time of the entire event, we’re not expecting much of significance to change.

Sean Edwards has a four lap lead over Bernd Schneider, and even with another stop to make the #3 should still have a healthy lead after the stop. The only class lead that could possibly be decided on pace, as it were, is in A2, where just a lap separates the #80 Mini from the LAP57 Honda.

13:05 Edwards brings the lead SLS in for its final stop. The English driver gets out after a steady stint and Khaled Al Qubaisi takes over for the run to the flag, still with two laps in hand over Schneider.

But while the fight for the lead appears to be over, the fight for third is still very much alive. Edward Sandström is chipping away at Andreas Simonsen’s advantage and has it down to 23 seconds with 50 minutes to go.

13:12 The existing distance record has been equalled – 608 laps – and Al Qubaisi will set a new record on his next circuit; and there’s still three-quarters of an hour to go.

Simonsen has responded to the threat from the Swede and is doing his best to stabilise the gap.

13:20 The remarkable Optimum Motorsport Ginetta G50 is now the top non-A6 car and is 14th overall. Its class lead is now ten laps.

Ten laps is also the lead in SP2 for the #103 Las Moras Megane.

13:25 Tomas Enge is the latest driver to have to serve a 90s stop & hold penalty. His sixth place looks to be secure despite this.

Despite all their problems, both United Autosports Audis look set to finish the race. Roger Wills has just pitted the #26.

13:29 Code 60. The #9 Lamborghini looks to have swapped ends and Roald Goethe appears unable to restart. Reports say it has lost a wheel.

Sandström pits the #1 Z4 for a splash of fuel.

It’s a long stop for the #15 – six minutes aside from the penalty and fuel.

Simonsen pits.

09:39 The hobbled Lamborghini is in the pitlane and the course goes green again. The #27 VDS Mustang has to serve a penalty, but it is only a short one.

With 20 minutes to go, Al Qubaisi leads by three laps from Bernd Schneider, who has a lap in hand over Simonsen. Sandström is just 18s off the podium in fourth, while Mark Ineichen is 16s off eric Lux’s sixth place.

Both Sandström and Ineichen trim two seconds off their disadvantages. And again on the next lap. This is all down to traffic and the remaining time.

13:52 Ineichen has demolished Lux’s lead and it now stands at just 2.838s. The Swiss now has three laps to take sixth.

13:54 Ineichen and Lux are side by side out of the final hairpin. Lux stays ahead but Ineichen gets him at the final turn and leads across the line. Sandström looks to have too much to do, with 11 seconds still to make up on Simonsen.

13:56 The gap third to fourth is 9.822s. There may be three more laps to go.

13:58 Now its 7.159 and Sandström has two more laps.

14:00 Time is up on the clock, but the leader crossed the line with a few seconds still to go. Sandström needs to make up 5 seconds.

Lap 628 – Khaled Al Qubaisi takes an excellent win for Abu Dhabi Black Falcon. Bernd Schneider takes second for Heico a few seconds later.....but who is third?

The crowd holds its breath until the cars emerge into view behind the paddock. Sandström is right behind his prey, but he’s overcooked it and spins! He’d put everything into it but the task was just a lap or two out of reach. Simonsen held onto third, while the Swede recovered to fourth a few seconds later.

(What we didn't know at the time was that Simonsen drove his last stint with a sticking throttle. Every time he went to full throttle, he would need to hook his foot under the pedal to unstick it!)

Optimum Racing completed a famous SP3 win by finishing 14th overall after 560 laps; Carworld Motorsport claimed 997 honours with the #41 Porsche in 17th; Las Moras Racing Team secured SP2 in 18th; Besaplast took A2 with the #80 Mini; and Le Duigou took A5 with its BMW. Well done to them all.

What a race!