Gulf 12 Hours Preview

The Gulf 12 Hours this year is shaping up to be a very interesting race.  The grid has grown from last year, up to 24 P3, GT3, and GT4 cars this year.  However, the organizers have handicapped the P3s, meaning the GT3s will indeed have a shot at the win.  Here's the preview for the race:

ENTRY LIST: Link

PROTO:

4 Entries make up the new for 2016 Proto class this year at the Gulf 12 Hours, 2 from Graff Racing, and 2 from United Autosports, meaning all four are Ligier JS P3s.  The 23 car from United seems to be the favorite in the class, mostly in part to the talents of Alex Lynn (who, IMO, should be driving for Williams next year, but that's another story).  They have been consistently the fastest in practice, and have established themselves as the favorite.  However, both of the Graff cars have shown speed, and one should expect them to be competitive throughout the event.  The 22 car from United has been off the pace relative to the rest of the P3s throughout the weekend, and I don't think they will be a factor this weekend.

ERIC'S PICK: Alex Lynn's talents will lead the #23 United Autosports Ligier to victory.



GT3 PRO:

3 cars make up this subclass of the GT3 entry this year.  A Kessel Racing Ferrari 488, a GP Extreme Renault RS 01, and a Dragon Racing Ferrari 488 are the competitors.  The Kessel Ferrari took the overall pole for the event, which surprised me.  However, the GP Extreme Renault has the talents of Nicky Pastorelli within them, and they should be competitive this weekend.  The Dragon Racing car has been fast all weekend, and with the veteran Nicolas Minassian on the team, they should be in the hunt as well.  It's hard to pick a winner out of this very competitive class.

ERIC'S PICK: The Kessel Racing car will win barely over the Dragon Racing Ferrari and the GP Extreme Renault.


GT3 PRO AM: 

The Pro Am field this year consists of 4 cars, all from different teams and manufacturers: A Ferrari 488 from AF Corse/Spirit of Race, the other Renault RS 01 from GP Extreme, a Lamborghini Huracan from Sportec Motorsport, and an Optimum Motorsport Audi R8.  The AF Corse/Spirit of Race team has been strong in practice and qualifying, and they are the clear favorites in this class.  If they run into problems, however, expect the Optimum Audi or possibly the GP Extreme Renault to contend for the win in Pro Am.

ERIC'S PICK: The AF Corse/Spirit of Race team will run away, barring any problems.


GT3 GENT:

The Gentlemen drivers make up the largest of the GT3 subclasses, with seven entries: a Car Collection Audi R8, two Super Trofeo-spec Huracans from GDL Racing Middle East, two Kessel Racing Ferrari 458s, and a single Huracan GT3 and Porsche 991 GT3 from Barwell Motorsport and Herberth Motorsport, respectively.  The Herberth Motorsport Porsche qualified the highest in class, and has been running well the entire weekend.  Also in contention is Barwell and the #77 Kessel entry.  It's clear the Herberth team has found much more speed in qualifying, as they were a second and a half faster than the #77 Kessel Racing car.  It will be close competition in this class.

ERIC'S PICK: The Porsche may have the pace, but the multi-team operation of Kessel Racing will pull through, with the #77 Ferrari 458 taking top honors.


GTX:

The GTX class this year features six cars, consisting of a single Porsche Cayman each from Dragon Racing, Slidesport, and Brookspeed.  Also joining in are Generation AMR Superracing with a Vantage GT4, and Villorba Corse with two Maserati MC GT4s.  The #50 Maserati from Villorba has been consistently quick throughout practice, and took top class honors in qualifying.  The Aston has also been quick, and has been at the top of the charts as well.

ERIC'S PICK: The advantage of a two car team will help out Villorba Corse in the end, and the #50 Maserati will win over the Aston Martin.


OVERALL:  It seems as if the P3s have been restricted to the approximate pace of the GT3s.  With that in mind, it presents an option of a GT3 winning the race overall.  The P3s are no doubt more delicate than the GT3s, and with only four cars, there is little backend in the class.  If the United Autosports 23 car runs clean this weekend, expect them to win overall.  If they do run into trouble, however, expect either one of the Graff cars or the Kessel Racing Pro entry to take top honors.

ERIC'S PICK: The #23 will win overall, barring any problems throughout the race.