With two hours to go in the Dubai 24 Hours, Mercedes is running 1-2-3, and on track to set a new track record for distance. However, an approaching sandstorm might slow the pace if it hits full-force.
The No. 3 Abu Dhabi by Black Falcon Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 with Thomas Jäger at the wheel has a four-lap lead over the Maximilian Buhk in the No. 6 No.6 Heico Motorsport Mercedes, which leads the No. 16 Heico Motorsport Mercedes of Kenneth Heyer by two laps.
Mercedes owns the top three spots due to an electronic failure in the No. 1 Saudi Falcons by Schubert No. 1 BMW.
The Schubert BMW lost ten minutes, enough to let the fourth-place Mercedes past into third, giving Mercedes the sweep.
Edward Sandström was in the middle of long, intense battle with race leader Jeroen Bleekemoln in the #3 Mercedes, as Sandström worked to unlap himself. The pair traded positions several times until 10:25 a.m. when Sandstrom suddenly slowed on the course, and limped into the pits with a malfunctioning transmission.
The problem was electronic, not mechanical. The crew swapped out the ECU and sent the car back out with Jörg Müller behind the wheel. Unfortunately Müller earned a drive-through for exceeding his target lap time shortly after rejoining, setting himself even further back.
The No. 3 Mercedes continues to run solidly; it seems unlikely that the car will not finish on the top step of the podium. In fact, the way the Mercedes have been running, it seems unlikely that the marquee will not sweep the podium.
Jeroen Bleekemolen spoke with Radio Le Mans after his battle with Sandström.
“This race is unbelievably tight—I don’t think there is any 24-hour race in the world that is so tight,” Bleekemolen said excitedly. “I was fighting with the No. 1 BMW for over an hour and it was like it was the last lap of a sprint race. We were side-by-side for many laps really fair but great fighting. I really enjoy this race.”
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The Other Classes:
997: The No. 14 Carworld Motorsport Porsche 997 still leads the 997 class; in 13th, the car is 62 laps down and 34 laps ahead of its closest rival, the No. 40 Besaplast Racing Porsche. If the Carsworld Porsche stays reliable (and Porsches have exactly that reputation,) this team will win the class.
SP2: The No. 103 Las Moras Racing Renault Megane Trophy continues to lead in SP2, in 18st overall and 75 laps down. Its closest competitor, the VDS Mustang came into the pits with a ruined transaxle with two hours, five minutes to go.
“We were worried about the rear axle because we had an oil leak,” co-driver Stephane Lemeret told Radio Le Mans. “We were pushing because we wanted to catch the class leader.” Lemeret said he felt the risk was worth it because the team would still probably end up on the podium, so going for the win was almost risk-free.
The Las Moras Megane has eight laps on the VDS Mustang, and that gap will only grow while the VDS crew makes repairs. It seems unlikely the Megane will not be able to hold onto its lead for two moiré hours.
SP3: The No. 116 Optimum Motorsport Ginetta G50 has an 11-lap lead over the 23 Black Falcon Team TMD Friction BMW M3 GT4. The Ginetta, which was as far down as 12th in class earlier in the race after a pair of collisions, is 65 laps behind the leader, but far enough ahead of the competition to feel secure.
A2: The No. 80 Besaplast Racing BMW Mini which led the class through the majority of the race, retook the class lead in the 21st hour. The Besaplast Mini had one long pit stop which cost it several laps, but seems to have fixed its problems and has been running quickly and steadily. The car, 91 laps behind the leader, is only one lap ahead of the second-place No. 57 Lap57 Racing Honda Integra Type R, but the Besaplast BMW is still the best bet to win the class.
A5: In 36th place, 126 laps down, the 51 Le Duigou BMW 130I Cup leads the A5 class by 12 laps over the No. 50 Kuepperracing BMW E46 Coupe. The Le Duigou BMW has been performing unspectacularly but solidly, but the Kuepperracing BMW has been cutting into its lead for the past hour. This class could go either way.
