Team Abu Dhabi returns to France this weekend for the 54th edition of the 24 Hours of Rouen aiming to replicate the success of last year’s debut race.
In 2016, Team Abu Dhabi 35 made up of Thani Al Qemzi, Alex Carella, Majed Al-Mansoori and Tullio Abbate, clinched the Class S2 title, beating nearest challengers Navikart Racing by 37 laps.
The Team Abu Dhabi 35 crew will see one change for this year’s race, with Rashed Al Tayer in to replace Abbate.
The 24 Hours of Rouen comprises 792 laps on a 3.8 kilometre course.
“This will be my sixth time here in Rouen and it’s a special race for me,” said Carella, who won his class in 2015 alongside the Russian New Star 1 drivers Konstantin Ustinov and Dmitry and Roman Vandyshev.
“I have won my class on three occasions now and am determined to try to give more success to Team Abu Dhabi.”
Team Abu Dhabi 36 will enter the race looking to atone for last year, having crashed out after 321 laps.
There will be two changes to the crew in the 36 boat, with Mohammed Al Mehairbi, Rashed Al Qemzi joined by Faleh Al Mansoori and Rashed Al Remeithi.
“This was a successful event for Team Abu Dhabi on our first appearance last year and everyone is focused on repeating that success this year,” said Salem Al-Remeithi, general manager of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC).
“We have a blend of youth, pace and experience and our drivers have been practicing, sometimes at night, to prepare for this race.
“We still have work to do to get the set-up right in Formula One, as last weekend proved in Portugal, but this is a great way for everyone to bounce back by achieving a top class result in France.”
The opening round of the 2017 UIM World Endurance Championship gets underway with scrutineering of the boats on Lacroix island in the centre of the River Seine in Rouen on Friday.
Drivers will then be permitted free practice on the course from 5pm to 10pm local time on Saturday.
The 24hr race starts at 10am local time on Sunday and the first section of 15 hours will run until 1am (3am UAE).
Competitors will then be permitted seven hours of rest before the final nine hours of racing starts at 7am (9am UAE) on Monday and finishes at 4pm (6pm UAE).
* Agencies
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