Oman Racing Team with TF Sport is delighted to confirm today (17 August, 2017) that it will compete this December in the prestigious end of season Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi for the first time. Blancpain GT Endurance Cup Pro-Am champion Ahmad Al Harthy will be joined by Road to Le Mans double victor Tom Jackson and 2016 Porsche Carrera Cup racer Euan McKay at the wheel of the Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3.
“It’s an event that we’ve wanted to do for a long time and it’s a great time of the year for us to assess drivers and to enjoy an end of season event,” said TF Sport Director Tom Ferrier. “We have a known quantity in Ahmad in the car and to a certain extent we do with Tom as well following his successful run with us at the Road to Le Mans. We also welcome Euan into the fold and I think we have an interesting driver line-up with two Silver drivers and a Bronze. Who knows what the future will bring, but I’m sure it will be a good first Gulf 12 Hours for us.”
Jackson joined TF Sport for the 2017 Road to Le Mans challenge in June, pairing up with Al Harthy and it was a formidable partnership with duo winning both GT3 races ahead of the main 24-Hour race.
“I’ve stayed in contact with Tom (Ferrier) since the success at Le Mans,” Jackson stated. “Once you find a good team like TF Sport, you really want to keep in with them. I’ve spoken with Tom on numerous occasions about what they’re planning and what would be a good fit for me and this opportunity to race in Abu Dhabi was one I couldn’t miss.
“I’m looking forward to working with Ahmad and Euan and we all have the same passion for success. We need to finish and we need to win. I personally want to keep the momentum from the Road to Le Mans rolling as it is my ambition to keep stepping up and to compete with the team in the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year. I can’t wait to work with the guys at TF Sport again as I have so much respect for everything they do.”
McKay meanwhile comes from a background in the Porsche Carrera Cup, stepping up to the series in 2016 with Redline Racing. He currently sits sixth in the standings with 11 rounds complete and is also looking forward to making the next step with TF Sport.
“I’m on a steep learning curve as I came to motorsport relatively late but the last couple of seasons have been fantastic and I’m now starting to look at the next step for me in the sport,” he said. “Obviously, I’m starting to look at my options for next year – I’m definitely looking at the GT scene – and I spoke with the team very much with a view of dipping my toe in the water. We’ll get lots of track time in the build up to the race weekend, so I’m not worried about that at all. Driving the Porsche has taught me a lot and while this is a step up, I’m very comfortable with that.”
The two-stage race starts Saturday 16 December at 09.30 through to 15.30. There is then a pause before it recommences at 17.45 before the race concludes at 23.45.
