Muscat – Oman’s number one racing driver Ahmad al Harthy confirmed his return to the Middle East’s biggest motorsport event this coming weekend, after reuniting with the Paradine Competition team for the annual Michelin 24H DUBAI.
Al Harthy had raced to a sensational GT3 AM class victory with Paradine’s BMW M4 GT3 EVO at last January’s 24-hour race at Dubai Autodrome and he will once again join team owner Darren Leung for the 21st staging of the region’s iconic endurance event.
“I’m excited to start the motorsport season in the biggest race of the region, the Michelin 24H DUBAI, and I’m looking forward to partnering with Paradine Competition again,” said Al Harthy.
“We had a highly successful race last year in Dubai and the aim is to try and defend our GT3 AM class victory in the BMW M4 this year.
“Dubai is always a fantastic race and I am grateful for the support of my amazing partners. I’m really looking forward to teaming once again with Darren [Leung] and also joining-up with James [Kellett] and Anthony [McIntosh]. It’s going to be a huge grid, something like 65 cars in total, so it should be a spectacular race again and a very action-packed 24 hours!”
Al Harthy and Leung will be joined by GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup BMW M4 racer James Kellett and Anthony McIntosh, who finished second overall in this past weekend’s Michelin 6H ABU DHABI with Team WRT’S BMW M4.
Last year’s event in Dubai witnessed a real masterclass of strategy and speed from the Paradine entry, then including Toby Sowery and Simon Traves in the line-up alongside Leung and Al Harthy.
Qualifying on GT3 AM pole position, a lofty eighth overall in GT3, the team led the class for the bulk of the 24 hours and at one stage Al Harthy headed the race outright. Such was the performance, the team was in the fight for the overall podium and ultimately ended the race fifth to win GT3 AM.
Excited to return to Dubai this week, the race takes place on 17th/18th January and Al Harthy says he is determined to get his 2026 motor racing year off to the best possible start at the wheel of the No.991 Paradine BMW M4 GT3 EVO.
Al Harthy competes this coming weekend with the steadfast support of prestigious partners OQ Group, Sohar International, Omantel, Oman LNG, BMW Oman and the Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth.
Two days of practice will take place this Wednesday, 14th January, and Thursday, 15th January, at Dubai Autodrome with an additional free practice session on Friday, 16th January, before qualifying begins at 13.45 local time. Three sessions for the GT3 cars will be held, with the 10 fastest entries then progressing into a new ‘Top 10 Shoot-Out’ at 17.20. Night practice then follows at 19.00.
On Saturday, 17th January, the 2026 Michelin 24H DUBAI will begin at 13.00 local time and will run through to 13.00 on Sunday, 18th January. All of the qualifying and race action can be viewed at Creventic Motorsports TV on YouTube – with links also available at www.24hseries.com
