> Provisional Entry List: 2022 Gulf 12 Hours
A record grid of 3o GT3 cars, as well as four more Porsche Cup entries, will contest the Gulf 12 Hours this weekend (December 9-11).
The race at Circuit Yas Marina also welcomes Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli for the first time. The list of nominated cars from its participating full-season manufacturers – Audi, Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche – will be confirmed shortly.
The record GT3 entry includes global stars galore, as well as some of the best-known teams in sportscar racing.
Mercedes-AMG wrapped up the IGTC manufacturers’ title with a round to spare but still has plenty to play for in Abu Dhabi where its 2 Seas Motorsport squad won 2021’s postponed race in January. The Three Pointed Star is chasing a fifth-straight IGTC win as well as a season sweep, neither of which have been achieved before.
It also has a deep pool of talent to choose from thanks to a total of nine entries. Four can be nominated to score IGTC points on its behalf.
Ferrari also has nine cars at its disposal, two of which feature factory line-ups. And just like those Francorchamps Motors entries, AF Corse is overseeing the MDK Motorsports 488, which includes famous father/son duo Jan and Kevin Magnussen.
Likewise Audi Sport, which has underlined its intentions by splitting five factory drivers across Tresor and Sainteloc’s Pro R8s. All four of its cars will be nominated to score IGTC points.
And the same goes for Porsche, which will have a quartet of 911 GT3 Rs on the starting grid. However, none look likely to fight for overall victory despite the presence of Klaus Bachler and Robert Renauer.
BMW and McLaren also feature, although neither is eligible for IGTC points. They, like all other non-Intercontinental entries, will sport the Gulf 12 Hours’ traditional white windscreen banner, while IGTC nominations can be identified by their black strip and white roundels.