Ahmad Al Harthy, Valentino Rossi, and Maxime Martin celebrated a triumphant return to the podium at the FIA World Endurance Championship, securing third place in LMGT3 at Fuji Speedway in Japan on Sunday, 15th September, with an exceptional performance that propelled them up the rankings.
Having previously claimed their first FIA WEC silverware at Imola in Italy in April, the Team WRT trio has been diligently working to reclaim their position on the LMGT3 podium. Throughout the weekend's 6 Hours of Fuji, they showcased their prowess on the track.
Al Harthy, representing Oman in the No.46 car, qualified in 12th place on the class grid. The track's conditions did not favor the BMW M4 in its qualifying trim, but the team's exceptional race strategy and the collective effort of the drivers allowed them to finish the race just three seconds behind the second-place finisher, securing a podium finish.
This podium achievement marks a long-awaited return to the top three for the No.46 team. Al Harthy took the race's start from the sixth row of the LMGT3 grid and, after an outstanding start, quickly moved up the ranks, eventually securing eighth place. He then overtook the LMGT3 lead during the first hour of racing.
Throughout the initial hours of the race, Al Harthy demonstrated remarkable skill, finishing the first 60 minutes in fifth place, within 16 seconds of the LMGT3 lead. Following the first round of pit stops, Al Harthy remained in the No.46 BMW M4, and the team's momentum continued.
With careful management of the Goodyear tyres, the team supported by Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Omantel, Experience Oman, and BMW Oman, advanced to the podium placings. By the end of the first hour, Al Harthy was in third place, setting the stage for a strong bid for silverware.
Maxime Martin took over the driving duties next and continued the pursuit of the podium. He closed in on the race leading No.92 Porsche 911 and maintained second place as the race progressed. After completing the third round of stops, Martin was in third place, further solidifying their position for the silverware.
Valentino Rossi also contributed significantly to the podium challenge, displaying exceptional driving skills. Starting in eighth, Rossi passed two rivals in a corner, securing sixth place. He then moved back into the podium placings, ending the fourth hour in third.
The race's fourth hour provided the first opportunity for Rossi to drive, and he once again demonstrated his skill, finishing in third place. This performance marked a significant milestone in their quest for silverware.
As the final hour of the race approached, the Italian team continued to push forward. However, in a dramatic turn of events, Rossi found himself in fourth place, narrowly edging out the No.54 Ferrari 296 of his compatriot, Davide Rigon. Pitting inside the final hour, Martin regained his position behind the wheel of the BMW, emerging in seventh place before moving back into the top four as competitors began to make their final stops.
With just 50 minutes remaining, Martin was within 15 seconds of securing a podium finish, with the top three cars racing closely together. The strategy was to slow down the leading trio in order to create opportunities for Martin to gain time.
By the 40-minute mark, Martin was within 15 seconds of the podium, with the top three cars racing nose-to-tail. The hope was that the leading trio would slow each other down, thereby allowing Martin to make up time.
Lapping more than a second ahead of the cars in front at that point, with just under half an hour remaining, the gap had narrowed to around eight seconds. Demonstrating exceptional skill, Martin managed to overtake the third-placed No.59 McLaren with just under 20 minutes left on the clock, securing his position on the podium.
As the race neared its conclusion, Martin was within five seconds of second place, with only a quarter of an hour left. The pace of the new top three was evenly matched, making it increasingly unlikely for Martin to overtake. However, Martin did manage to close the gap before crossing the finish line in third place, marking a remarkable return to the podium for the No.46 BMW M4.
Ahmad Al Harthy:
"What an incredible achievement – I am truly, profoundly delighted! This race was among the most challenging we have faced, yet it was far from insurmountable. The performance of our team was outstanding. I am pleased with my start to the race and the ability to overtake all those cars, which was crucial for executing our strategy effectively.
"Some of the Safety Cars and Full Course Yellow flags seemed to work in our favor, while others presented obstacles. Most importantly, every single driver maintained perfect form. It is a great honor to be back on the podium and to celebrate with our sponsors and partners from Oman, including the Ambassador to Japan, His Excellency Dr Mohammed Said Al Busaidi. I am immensely grateful for their support and thrilled to see the Omani flag return to the FIA WEC podium."
The culmination of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, round eight, is set to return to the Middle East, with a visit to the Bahrain International Circuit scheduled for Friday, 1st November, and Saturday, 2nd November.
Results of the 6 Hours of Fuji LMGT3 Race:
1st Place: Davide Rigon / Francesco Castellacci / Thomas Flohr (AF Corse / Ferrari 296)
2nd Place: Klaus Bachler / Joel Sturm / Aliaksandr Malykhin (PureRxcing / Porsche 911)
3rd Place: Ahmad Al Harthy / Maxime Martin / Valentino Rossi (Team WRT / BMW M4)
4th Place: Charlie Eastwood / Rui Andrade / Tom van Rompuy (TF Sport / Corvette Z06)
5th Place: Michelle Gatting / Rahel Frey / Sarah Bovy (Iron Dames / Lamborghini Huracan)
6th Place: Alessio Rovera / Simon Mann / Francois Heriau (AF Corse / Ferrari 296)
Standings of the FIA World Endurance Championship LMGT3 Drivers (after Round Eight)
1st Place: Klaus Bachler / Joel Sturm / Aliaksandr Malykhin, with 136 points.
2nd Place: Morris Schuring / Richard Lietz / Yasser Shahin, with 90 points.
3rd Place: Augusto Farfus / Darren Leung / Sean Gelael, with 85 points.
4th Place: Alex Riberas / Daniel Mancinelli / Ian James, with 83 points.
5th Place: Ahmad Al Harthy / Maxime Martin / Valentino Rossi, with 61 points.
