Gulf 12H returns for 2 Seas Motorsport with Grove Racing

Expanding the team’s winter race programme, 2 Seas Motorsport will head back to one of its staple events, with confirmation of an exciting Pro-Am driver line-up for the Gulf 12 Hours. Marking a fifth consecutive entry into the race, the British-Bahraini team will run the Mercedes-AMG GT3, with Australian father-and-son driver pairing of Stephen and Brenton Grove, sharing with a familiar face to the team, Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver Jules Gounon.

The entry will see 2 Seas Motorsport, in conjunction with Grove Racing, compete in the final endurance event of the season, with a highly experienced and decorated driver trio looking to end 2024 on a high. 2 Seas Motorsport has previously enjoyed strong results at the Gulf event, scoring back-to-back victories at the first two efforts, and have gone on to claim two further podium finishes. Australian-based Grove Racing has enjoyed significant success across sportscar and Australian Supercar competition in recent years, with five Bathurst 12 Hour class wins, and multiple Supercars Championship race victories. The team has also joined the grids of some of the world’s most exciting GT3 events, including the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, Dubai 24 Hours and 24 Hours of Portimão, as well as Fanatec GT World Challenge powered by AWS events at home and abroad.

Many of these results have come from the father and son pairing of Stephen and Brenton Grove, and they have scored some further impressive race results in recent years. Stephen is a three-time Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Pro-Am Champion, and he also captained Australia at the 2022 FIA Motorsport Games, claiming gold for the team in the GT Sprint. This result followed Stephen and Brenton combining at the 2019 edition of the event to claim the bronze medal. 

Jules Gounon needs little introduction, making a welcome return to the 2 Seas Motorsport garage. Having competed with the team for the full 2023 British GT season, the Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver from Andorra also secured the Intercontinental GT Challenge drivers’ title. As part of the 2 Seas Motorsport Pro entry, Jules scored an overall podium to help Mercedes-AMG to a second consecutive manufacturers’ win.

"Yas Marina Circuit is one of my favourite tracks, and returning for the Gulf 12 Hours, in the premier GT race, is an incredible way to close out the year. The Mercedes-AMG has been fantastic, and we've learned a lot about how to maximise its performance this season. I'm excited to utilise all that knowledge to forge a strong result at the Gulf 12 Hours. Beginning our partnership with 2 Seas Motorsport is another thrilling aspect, and their meticulous preparation of the car has been impressive. It’s also a privilege to team up with a driver of Jules' calibre, and I'm eager to learn as much as possible from him. He's an incredible professional and there will be high value in observing his preparation, as well as his technique and outright speed throughout the weekend.” 

Stephen Grove, 2 Seas Motorsport driver, Mercedes-AMG GT3.

"Finishing our racing season in the Gulf 12 Hours is incredibly exciting. It’s a fantastic event in a great location, with intense racing. This will be our third time competing, but our first attempt at the overall win. With a full season in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 under our belt, we’re confident in achieving a strong result. 2 Seas Motorsport has an impressive track record at this event, having won twice before, and we’re thrilled to join forces with such a successful team. Jules has been a friend for a while, and we’ve wanted to team up with him since switching to Mercedes-AMG. Having him with us for the weekend will be invaluable to learning even more about the Mercedes-AMG package, and we know that he will be a great driver to work with."

‍Brenton Grove, 2 Seas Motorsport driver, Mercedes-AMG GT3.

“I am very happy to be back with the guys at 2 Seas Motorsport. We came together and did a great job last year in Abu Dhabi, securing the Intercontinental GT Challenge title, so it’s a pleasure to be back. I’m also really pleased to join the Grove family for this event – we have been working hard for some time make it possible to race together, so I am delighted that we have been able to make this all come together for the Gulf 12 Hours. Really looking forward to a fun weekend with everyone and hoping we can bring some silverware home to sign off the year.”

Jules Gounon, 2 Seas Motorsport driver, Mercedes-AMG GT3.

“ For me, the Gulf 12 Hours is a real highlight of the racing calendar. I have enjoyed some great success, competing, and it is always a fantastic event to watch. We are in a purple patch in terms of GT3 racing currently, with strong grids and fantastic series across the world, and we are proud to be part of it, competing at the sharp end. It is fantastic to have Jules back with us for this year, after we raced together last year and helped him secure his Intercontinental GT Challenge title, and it is great to welcome Stephen and Brenton to the team. They, and the whole Grove Racing team, have established themselves as a formidable force over the years, globally and domestically, and it is an exciting proposition to be working with them and supporting their efforts as we try to secure a third Gulf 12 Hours title.” 

Isa Al Khalifa, 2 Seas Motorsport team co-owner. 

The 2024 edition of the Lenovo Gulf 12 Hours is scheduled to take place on 15 December, 2024, at Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi. The 12th running of the event will see a return to a split-race format, with an initial eight-hour event, followed by a final four-hour sprint to the finish.