Muscat – FIA World Endurance Championship LMGT3 class racer Ahmad al Harthy remains upbeat despite an enforced early exit from the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday, the result of contact from one of the Hypercar class entries 90 minutes into the race.

 Carrying high hopes into race three of the 2024 season, after qualifying a season-best second on the LMGT3 grid in the No.46 BMW M4 GT3, the Omani stayed in the podium battle during the first hour of racing in Belgium on Saturday and looked well-placed.

Holding fourth position after the first round of pit stops, Al Harthy settled into the race again and sought to look after the car and Goodyear tyres as much as possible ahead of the upcoming stints for team-mates Valentino Rossi and Maxime Martin.

Maintaining his focus on the strategy to minimise degradation of the tyres, the Omani firmly stuck to the plan while remaining competitive in the top four of LMGT3. Roughly halfway through the second hour of action, though, he was powerless to prevent his enforced retirement.

 As he approached Fagnes, Al Harthy’s involvement in the encounter ended prematurely after the BMW was hit by the No.38 Team JOTA Porsche 963 Hypercar – a consequence of contact between the Porsche and another of the Hypercars.

“I’m obviously really disappointed not to be able to finish the race. We started the race in a very strong position, we knew we had to save the tyres for the two hours I was supposed to be in the car and we had a specific strategy for that – to reduce tyre degradation. We were holding our position in the top four or five, and that was a good place to be with our strategy for the remainder of the race,” said Al Harthy.

“We were running our own race and unfortunately, when I had about nine laps to go before the second pit stop, two Hypercars made contact and that resulted in them ending our race – there was nothing I could do to avoid it. This is racing, things like this happen, and with our experience, we know how to get back and be stronger for the next round.

 Simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, Al Harthy was justifiably devastated to post the entry’s first non-finish of the FIA WEC season. He does, though, remain very positive having exceeded expectations in qualifying and knowing a strong result was all but assured.

“There were huge positives from this weekend, we out-performed ourselves in qualifying which was great, and now we look forward to the next round at Le Mans. I really do want to thank everyone for the huge amount of support at Spa, our sponsors from OQ were here and the Omani Ambassador to Belgium, Rua Issa Ashraf Alzadjali. It means so much to have this incredible support and from all of our partners – OQ, Oman Ministry of Culture Sports and Youth, Omantel and BMW Oman.”

 Despite this weekend’s non-finish, the No.46 trio remain fourth in the LMGT3 points standings and OQ, Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Omantel and BMW Oman supported Al Harthy says the team is fired-up to hit back strongly at the next event – the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.

It’s the big one next for the FIA World Endurance Championship – the crown jewel of the 2024 calendar, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The event will run from June 12, with the race beginning on June 15.