PORTIMÃO, PORTUGAL – Ahmad Al Harthi‘s first season back in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup ended on the podium. The Omani, Javier Sagrera and Calan Williams finished third in the Bronze Cup at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve on 17 October, the No.42 BMW M4 GT3 EVO’s second class podium of the year.
The result moved Oman Racing by Century Motorsport to ninth in the Bronze Cup championship, a single point outside the top eight.
How it was won
In a 61-car field, the trio’s combined qualifying average of 1:43.128 put them fourth in class, matching their best of the season; Williams was quickest of the three at 1:42.483.
Al Harthi dropped to sixth on lap one, fought back, took fifth from the No.11 Aston Martin and was fourth when he pitted around the 65-minute mark. Sagrera then moved into the podium places and briefly ran second after a penalty for the class leader. Williams took over with about 45 minutes left and brought the car home third, 25 seconds clear of the next Bronze runner, under night skies.
Al Harthi said it felt great to be back on the podium at one of the busiest tracks he has raced, called it a tough and complicated race, and thanked the team and partners, saying the result sets a good base for next year.
Photo: Oman Observer
Sources: Oman Observer, Muscat Daily