Optimum Motorsport secure podium finish at the Lenovo Gulf 12 Hours
What better way to round out the 2024 racing season than with a podium. Well, that’s exactly what the #69 McLaren crew did at Sunday’s Gulf 12 Hours at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi.
The newly-revised split format, featuring an initial eight-hour enduro followed by a four-hour sprint after a two-hour break, saw action from lights out to the chequered flag…twice!
Saturday evening’s qualifying saw each of Optimum’s three drivers, Frederik Schandorff, Aaron Telitz and Todd Coleman, take on a 15-minute session - where the average time taken from each of their fastest laps would determine the starting order for the start of Sunday’s action. With Fred topping the timing sheets in Q2, Aaron third overall in Q3 and combined with Todd’s efforts from Q4, the trio started eighth overall, with the latter on starting duties in the #69 McLaren.
The first three hours of the twelve-hour enduro, saw the team cycle through their regular driver changes, with Todd handing over to Fred who climbed to second overall before handing over to teammate, Aaron.
A spell of Full Course Yellow and Safety Car periods fell throughout the initial hours of Sunday’s event, before a clear run of racing followed for the final three hours. The team had climbed to second overall before the race entered the break, and with the finishing positions determining part two’s starting positions, our #69 McLaren was ready for the closing four-hour sprint with Aaron at the wheel for the start.
A move on the inside at Turn 9 on the #25 Audi saw Aaron head into the lead of the race before yet another Safety Car neutralised the action. With three hours left on the clock the restart was on, where the Audi repeated Aaron’s initial move on the inside to reclaim the race lead.
Fred jumped in with 120 minutes of the race remaining, and moved up into the lead after jumping the Audi in the stops - a move that would eventually see the team come out on top and cross the line first.
Although finishing first on the road, the team were handed two post-race 30-second penalties for speeding in the pit lane, dropping the crew to second overall.
What better way to round out the 2024 racing season than with a podium. Well, that’s exactly what the #69 McLaren crew did at Sunday’s Gulf 12 Hours at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi.
The newly-revised split format, featuring an initial eight-hour enduro followed by a four-hour sprint after a two-hour break, saw action from lights out to the chequered flag…twice!
Saturday evening’s qualifying saw each of Optimum’s three drivers, Frederik Schandorff, Aaron Telitz and Todd Coleman, take on a 15-minute session - where the average time taken from each of their fastest laps would determine the starting order for the start of Sunday’s action. With Fred topping the timing sheets in Q2, Aaron third overall in Q3 and combined with Todd’s efforts from Q4, the trio started eighth overall, with the latter on starting duties in the #69 McLaren.
The first three hours of the twelve-hour enduro, saw the team cycle through their regular driver changes, with Todd handing over to Fred who climbed to second overall before handing over to teammate, Aaron.
A spell of Full Course Yellow and Safety Car periods fell throughout the initial hours of Sunday’s event, before a clear run of racing followed for the final three hours. The team had climbed to second overall before the race entered the break, and with the finishing positions determining part two’s starting positions, our #69 McLaren was ready for the closing four-hour sprint with Aaron at the wheel for the start.
A move on the inside at Turn 9 on the #25 Audi saw Aaron head into the lead of the race before yet another Safety Car neutralised the action. With three hours left on the clock the restart was on, where the Audi repeated Aaron’s initial move on the inside to reclaim the race lead.
Fred jumped in with 120 minutes of the race remaining, and moved up into the lead after jumping the Audi in the stops - a move that would eventually see the team come out on top and cross the line first.
Although finishing first on the road, the team were handed two post-race 30-second penalties for speeding in the pit lane, dropping the crew to second overall.
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