DUBAI: Dubai Autodrome will welcome 70 race teams — including four UAE-based outfits — for this weekend’s milestone 20th Michelin 24H Dubai race.
The event, which will see some of the world’s top endurance drivers in action, coincides with Dubai Autodrome’s own 20th anniversary celebrations.
The season-opening 24HR Series will see its largest GT3 grids, with more than 30 teams taking to the track for the flagship competition on Jan. 11-12.
Among the UAE teams competing are Rabdan Motorsport, led by Emirati driver Saif Al-Ameri, who will be joined by teammates Fahad Al-Zaabi, Salem Al-Ketbi and Christopher Zoechling. Other UAE-based teams include Dragon Racing, Fulgenzi Racing and Duel Racing.
They will be part of a competitive grid which has attracted prominent names from the world of endurance motorsport. These include two-time World Rally Championship winner Kalle Rovanpera, former World Touring Car series champion Robert Huff and reigning Asian Le Mans Series GT winner Alex Malykhin. Also set to be behind the wheel are Oman’s Ahmad Al-Harthy, British Touring Car champion Jake Hill and Saudi Arabia’s first professional female racing driver Reema Juffali.
Indian actor Ajith Kumar, who has starred in more than 60 movies in the Tamil film industry, makes his return to motor racing with his own newly formed team, Ajith Kumar Racing.
Mixing with this elite field will be Dubai Autodrome’s very own Jamie Day, who has climbed through the ranks from karting to race in the GT3 category. The venue’s driving instructors, Axcil Jefferies (2021 edition champion), Mathieu Detry (GT AM 2024 champion) and Ramez Azzam are also set to line up on the track.
Since opening in 2004, the Dubai Autodrome has staged every edition of the 24H Dubai, with the event a key championship in the venue’s busy motorsport calendar.
General Manager Faisal Al-Sahlawi said: “This 2025 Michelin 24H Dubai event represents a significant moment as it is also part of Dubai Autodrome’s 20th anniversary celebrations. Since the lights first went out way back in 2006, this motorsport event has gone from strength to strength, creating wonderful memories to cherish. The fact we are staging the 20th edition of this flagship event, which has brought together some of the top names in motorsport, reaffirms how highly-regarded it is, both in the UAE and abroad.
“This competition has served as an important platform for UAE drivers and teams to get competitive experience against an international field that will help them in their development. In the past, we have seen many teams and drivers fly the UAE flag high by gaining podium finishes and we hope to see some of the participants follow in their footsteps.”
Off the track, the weekend includes a wide array of family entertainment and activities, including a cultural zone where visitors can explore the cultures of Africa, Asia, America and Australia, a kids’ zone and a car display.
