Just a few weeks after the 12 hours race in Abu Dhabi the MRS team went to the nearby emirate Dubai, where last weekend the 10th edition of the 24 hours race took place. Among the 95 participants also two Porsche 991 GT3 Cup of the team MRS GT-Racing. The Frenchman Olivier Baharian shared the cockpit of the starting number 20 with his countryman Thierry Blaise and the Swiss Manuel Nicolaidis. They were supported by Johnson Hunag from Taiwan und the German Elia Erhart, who already participated for the MRS team in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany in 2014. Erhart also had the fifth driver’s seat in the other car with the number 46, on which Chris Le Bon, Siggi Sorlos, Ilya Melnikov and Dubai-born Bassam Kronfli shared the work behind the steering wheel.

Strong catch up after accident

Already after a few hours the number 46 was involved in an accident, what caused an almost one hour repair of the rear suspension. This pit stop repulsed the team on the 79th position. From now on the team moved forward and at the end they crossed the finish line on a very good 21st position, which meant a strong seventh position in the hard-fought Porsche Cup class. Also the other car with the number 20 had some troubles. A problem with the oil cooler was the cause for a longer repair break for the car which until then had an issue-free race. However the team could catch up with the middle field of the cup class thanks to an amazing performance. At the end they reached a 24th position overall and a good eighth position in the Cup class.

Karsten Molitor: „Altogether we are very satisfied that we finished the race with both cars. With the high traffic of 95 cars it is not a matter of course. Unfortunately the pit stops threw us back; else we surely could have reach more. Our driver line-ups were extremely good and well-balanced, everybody showed a top performance here in Dubai, they convinced through their speed and stability. I want to compliment the whole team and the tireless mechanics, who prepared the cars with an amazing effort again and again. We already look forward and in a few weeks we will start at the 12 hours in Mugello.”

Hankook Endurance Series

For the first time the MRS team will participate in the whole Hankook Endurance Series, which is composed of two more 24 hours race and of three 12 hours race. Both Americans Charlie Putman and Charles Espenlaub will start in all races in a Porsche 991 Cup of the MRS team. At the moment it is not clear who will be the other driver. The next endurance race will be from the 13th to the 14th of March in Mugello, Itlay, where a 12 hours race will be held.