GPX Racing score their first victory in the 24 Hours of Dubai

The GPX Racing team that has clinched nine podium finishes in endurance in two years has rarely met with much success in the 24 Hours of Dubai on the circuit just beside their base. But this year the team took a scintillating revenge by leading the 24-hour race that is the traditional opener of the 24H Series season for almost the full distance. Mathieu Jaminet, Julien Andlauer, Axcil Jefferies, Frédéric Fatien, Alain Ferté and their service team achieved a stunning, faultless performance in the face of top-level opposition.

In qualifying, the #36 911 GT3 R set the fourth-fastest time and it quickly got stuck into the battle for victory with the Mercedes, Audis, Lamborghinis and the other Porsches also favourites for the win. The gaps were never very big and the Porsche in Gulf colours took over a lead it was never to lose after around six hours racing. No major glitches hindered its forward march, and with two hours to go to the finish the team opted for a conservative rhythm and saw the chequered flag one-and-a-half laps in front of its nearest pursuer after covering 600 laps.

Former GP2 driver Axcil Jefferies from Zimbabwe was given the honour of crossing the finishing line. He teamed up with GPX Racing’s owner, Frédéric Fatien, Porsche works driver Mathieu Jaminet, Young Professional Julien Andlauer, and a motor racing legend, Alain Ferté.

Pierre-Brice Mena, Team Principal: “Difficult to find a better way to start the year! This was one of the races we really wanted to win as we’re based at this circuit. So we’re very proud to have achieved this feat, especially after our retirement last year. The week didn’t get off to a great start as we lacked a big chunk of performance on Monday. We only finished fine-tuning the setup for the 24 hours on Thursday during qualifying. In the race itself we were in the mix; the car ran like a dream and we were able to count on a pretty exceptional bunch of drivers. The race was a delight and there was a super ambience between the drivers. Everything went off naturally without stress and we savoured every moment.”

GPX Racing’s next target will be to make a success of their debut in the Asian Le Mans Series on the very same circuit, the Dubai Autodrome, on which two 4-hour races are scheduled on 13-14 February.