Hankook 24H DUBAI a great start for a busy season

With the twelfth running of the Hankook 24H DUBAI, supported by the first-ever race event for prototypes organised by Dutch agency CREVENTIC, and the premiere of the new TCR Middle East series, the 2017 season of the 24H SERIES powered by Hankook got underway at Dubai Autodrome last week. “Again, we have enjoyed an event that was really special in many ways. The number of 95 cars that were present and the 92 cars that took the start were an impressive proof of the popularity of the event. With the nice weather, the many activities in the paddock and grandstand areas and the great co-operation with Dubai Autodrome, we couldn’t have hoped for a better start of the new season,” says Daphne Gengler on behalf of CREVENTIC. The Dutch agency is the promoter and organiser of the 24H SERIES powered by Hankook, in co-operation with the Dutch National Racing Team (DNRT).

“It was great to see that the interest for the event in the Gulf region is growing, too” Gengler continues. “There were many activities around the circuit, including a food truck festival where visitors could watch the race on a big video screen that attracted a lot of people. For over 19 hours, #24hDubai was a trending topic on Twitter in Dubai, so that also says a lot. The race, of course, was spectacular as ever, with a wide variety of cars and a total of nine changes for the overall lead. We are happy with the event. Dubai was a pleasure, as always!”

A busy season ahead

For the first time, CREVENTIC will be running three different series this year. The 24H SERIES powered by Hankook continues in the way that has become established over the years, with twelve- and 24-hour races for GTs, touring cars and 24H Specials. The six-round calendar for this year includes three new venues: the Red Bull Ring in Austria, the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy and the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal. Next to Dubai as the venue for the traditional season-opener, the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello in Italy and the Circuit Paul Ricard remain on the calendar. In November, there will be a non-championship race at the Circuit Of The Americas in Austin, Texas, the first-ever CREVENTIC event to be organised on the American continent.

Following its inaugural season last year, the 24H TCE SERIES powered by Hankook remains exclusively open for touring cars and GT4 machinery. The Silverstone circuit in the UK again hosts the season-opener while the 24-hour race at Barcelona now has become a round of the 24H TCE SERIES powered by Hankook. New venues are the Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours in France, the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Italy and the Circuit Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. This year, CREVENTIC will also organise a dedicated series of endurance races for prototypes for the first time. The inaugural season of the 24H PROTO SERIES powered by Hankook includes four rounds at the circuits of Magny-Cours, Misano, Paul Ricard and Spa-Francorchamps.

Entries for the full season in each of the series as well as race-by-race entries can be submitted. CREVENTIC can also provide logistics solutions and tailor-made packages for travel and accommodation, with or without on-site catering. Further information can be found at www.24hseries.com, www.24htceseries.com and www.24hprotoseries.com.