MRS GT-Racing team showed competitive form in curtain-raiser to the 24H Series at Dubai Autodrome: the 24 hours of Dubai. Technically Germany´s team had a trouble-free event with some race incidents hampering them through the 24 hours.

MRS GT-Racing enjoyed close racing at their opening event of the season at the 24 hours of Dubai. Experienced and ambitious team entered three cars at the 2016´s season first event. The Nissan GT-R GT3 was driven by Ahmed Bin Khanen, Bassam Kronfli, Ilya Melnikov and Tomonobu Fujii, an extremely competitive team in A6-Pro class led by Japanese NISMO factory driver. Both Porsche 991 Cup cars also had undeniably fast and ultra-competitive driver line ups with Yutaka Matsushima, Tomoyuki Takizawa, Nadir Zuhour, Michel Overgaard Pedersen and Dylan Pereira driving the #46 and Charles Putman, Xavier Maassen, Charles Espenlaub and Joe Foster at the wheel of the #78.

Nissan quartet ranked 5th and 7th overall in both private test sessions on Thursday morning with both Porsche cars equally competitive in the top-ten in 991 class. The sole Nissan again set a quick time in free practice, where Luxembourg´s Pereira shone on his own posting the fastest time in 991 Class following his P3 in FP1. Later in qualifying, the Nissan qualified 13th overall with a fastest lap of 2:00.015. Among 997 contenders, Belgian Maassen was 8th-fastest with a lap time of 2:05.042, with Pereira 9th and a personal best of 2:05.142. Splendid prospects ahead of the race considering that the “American” Porsche even topped mandatory night practice session.

With race getting underway shortly after 14.00 (local time), MRS GT-Racing experienced early setback when Maassen, running in the-5 in class by then, suffered a huge crash involving another car. Maassen was lucky to walk away unscathed after his car spectacularly crashed into the wall only thirty-nine minutes into the race. Meanwhile, the Nissan and the surviving Porsche continued their runs.

Several race incidents beyond MRS GT-Racing-s control hampered podium contention chances. It was particularly the case of the #46 Porsche driven by Matsushima, Takizawa, Zuhour, Overgaard Pedersen and Pereira, which was forced to retire after seventeen hours. Bin Khanen, Kronfli, Melnikov and Fujii brought 12th home after completing 536 laps with the nicknamed “Godzilla” Japanese-built supercar.

Tomonobu Fujii: “It was a great pleasure for me to contest the 24 hours of Dubai with MRS GT-Racing. They are a world-class, highly professional, competent and skilled team. I hope to drive for them again in the future because I enjoyed every second shared with MRS GT-Racing.”

Johan Koning Hemmerling: “Our cars didn´t experience any technical problems during the event but unfortunately we were caught in some race incidents. They caused us some issues and both Porsche cars were forced to retire. But they had an excellent pace and we would have been fighting for a podium. Our Nissan made it to the finish matching other GT3 cars entered by prestigious teams and manufacturers. I would like to thank our drivers, engineers, mechanics, sponsors, partners and friends the effort made. Finally I would also like to thank that Japanese TV conducted with me an interview. Thank you very much. It was great to have that major presence of Japanese people with us”