The partnership also heralds his new role as Brand Ambassador for the BMW M4 CSL

Muscat – Omani racing champion Ahmad Al Harthy has joined Team WRT, taking the wheel of a BMW M4 GT3 car for the 2024 season and joining the ranks of global racing icon Valentino Rossi and professional BMW factory driver Maxime Martin.

This transition is not just a change of teams for Al Harthy, backed by BMW M Motorsport, for a dual programme in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and GT World Challenge Europe, but also marks the beginning of his role as Brand Ambassador for BMW Oman.

The popular motorsport champ, celebrated for his achievements on the track – including several victories and podium finishes – also launched his racing programme this February at the Al Jenaibi International Automobiles showroom in Muscat. The partnership is fuelled by Al Harthy’s long-standing loyalty to the BMW brand as a customer, and also showcases his new role as brand ambassador for BMW Oman by driving the BMW M4 CSL.

“The move to Team WRT – driving the BMW M4 GT3 – and becoming a Brand Ambassador for BMW Oman is a milestone in my career that fills me with immense pride,” said Al Harthy. “Besides continuing my long-standing relationship with Al Jenaibi International Automobiles, BMW’s unmatched legacy in performance and innovation aligns perfectly with my racing requirements. Off the track, driving the BMW M4 CSL – a marvel of engineering and a light, practical roadster – is an absolute pleasure as well.”

Rachid Zamani, Managing Director of Al Jenaibi International Automobiles, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, “Having a distinguished racing driver like Ahmad Al Harthy represent BMW Oman is a privilege. Ahmad’s exceptional talent, dedication, and passion for racing perfectly embody the values of BMW, its racing heritage and backing of racing teams. We are thrilled to support him on this exciting new journey and look forward to revving his future successes.”

The BMW M4 CSL, Al Harthy’s choice as a brand representative, is a perfect nod to BMW’s motorsport heritage and credentials and is the lightest road-ready car M4 ever made. The car boasts a high-performance M TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder petrol engine, producing an exhilarating output of 551 hp and 650 Nm of torque.

Engineered for sheer performance, the M4 CSL is equipped with specifically fitted Ultra Track tyres. The interior and exterior of the M4 CSL reflect the racing inspiration – from the visible carbon structure and red CSL-specific foil on the CFRP bonnet to the M Carbon full bucket seats designed for the ultimate driving experience.

Supported by a strong partnership network including BMW Oman, Al Harthy’s journey in racing is not just a personal endeavour but a source of national pride, with the driver even earning praise from His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, the Sultan of Oman.

The 2024 WEC season commenced on Qatar’s Lusail International Circuit in March, with Al Harthy finishing in fourth place in the No.46 car, the high-performance BMW M4 GT3 powered by a BMW P58 3.0L Turbo I6 engine. Al Harthy and Team WRT are supported by BMW M Motorsport, following his recent move from the ORT by TF Sport team driving an Aston Martin car.

Al Harthy also competed in the GT World Challenge Europe, bidding for the new Bronze class title in France, after a positive two-day prologue test in early March with the BMW M4 GT3.

The 42-year-old’s journey in the world of competitive racing is marked by significant milestones. In 2012, he clinched the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain Pro-Am 1 Championship, and was part of the team to win the coveted British GT Championship ‘GT3 Teams’ prize in 2014.

He also won the prestigious Blancpain Endurance Series Pro-Am Championship in 2017, finished in overall third place in the 2023-24 Asian Le Mans Series, and scored a second-place finish in the GTE Am class at the 2023-24 season of 24 Hours of Le Mans, cementing his status as a top-tier endurance racer.

As Al Harthy embarks on this new chapter with Team WRT, backed by BMW M Motorsport and BMW Oman, the racing world watches with anticipation for the next wave of victories and stellar performances from one of Oman’s most celebrated drivers.