ABU DHABI (UAE) – Al-Manar Racing’s Al-Faisal Al-Zubair is set for an exciting new chapter in his motorsport career as he teams up with Dubai-based Dragon Racing for the first time at the 15th edition of the Gulf 12 Hours, taking place this weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit.
A New Partnership and a New Machine
The Omani racer will join forces with accomplished British drivers Chris Froggatt and Ben Tuck, sharing an Al-Manar by Dragon Racing Ferrari 296 GT3. This marks Al-Zubair’s debut in Ferrari’s latest GT3 challenger, adding intrigue to one of the Middle East’s most prestigious endurance races and launching his ambitious 2025–2026 campaign.
Al-Zubair expressed his enthusiasm ahead of the event:
“I am very excited to be racing in the Gulf 12 again after a missed period last year. It’s a race that I really enjoy. It’s a long and difficult race with all the competition that has signed up. It will be difficult because it will be my first time in the Ferrari 296 GT3, which I am very excited to drive for the first time this weekend.”
He added that while the new car presents a learning curve, the team is well-prepared and fully capable of fighting at the front:
“We have an extremely strong package this weekend with Chris Froggatt, Ben Tuck, Dragon Racing and our engineer and the rest of the team. From my side, it will be about learning this weekend. But I have no doubt we will be on the pace and looking for the overall victory.”
Momentum from a Title-Winning Season
Al-Zubair heads into Abu Dhabi fresh from a highly successful 2025 season, where he helped Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT, alongside Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck, secure Gold Cup victory in the combined GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint and Endurance Teams’ title.
Formidable Competition Awaits
Al-Manar by Dragon Racing faces an elite GT3 field in Abu Dhabi. The 24-car entry list features powerhouse teams including four-time Gulf 12 Hours winners AF Corse, Garage 59, GetSpeed, Greystone GT, Herberth Motorsport, Inception Racing, Optimum Motorsport, TFT Racing and Winward Racing.
Saintéloc Racing claimed victory in the 2024 edition with their Audi R8 LMS GT3, adding pressure on contenders to dethrone the French outfit.
Weekend Schedule and Format
Organised by Driving Force Events, the weekend begins on Friday, December 12th, with two one-hour open practice sessions at 17:00 and 19:20.
Saturday features an intensive programme with:
- A two-hour practice session
- Two additional 90-minute practice stints
- Four 15-minute qualifying sessions at 18:00, 18:25, 18:50, and 19:15
The 12-hour race, contested on the 5.281km Yas Marina Grand Prix layout—fresh from hosting Lando Norris’s crowning as the new FIA Formula One World Champion—will once again be run in two parts:
- Part 1: 8 hours, starting 09:00 on Sunday, December 14th
- Part 2: 4 hours, starting 19:00, finishing 23:00
A New Challenge Begins
With a new Ferrari, a new team collaboration, and a renewed drive to build on a championship-winning year, Al-Faisal Al-Zubair enters the Gulf 12 Hours poised for a strong performance. All eyes will be on the Al-Manar by Dragon Racing trio as they aim for outright victory in one of the region’s most demanding endurance battles.
