24 Hours of Dubai: the season is already starting for Comtoyou Racing

No extended winter break for the Gembloux based-team ! After wrapping up the end of the 2024 season in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the Team unfortunately narrowly missed out on the opportunity to win the GT World Challenge Endurance Europ, our men are already back now in the Middle East as part for the 24H Series.

While tradition suggests a slow and gradual recovery after the festive holidays, ComtoyouRacing has opted for a strong approach by immediately entering two Aston Martin Vantage Evo GT3s in the Michelin 24 Hours of Dubai (which is also celebrating its 20th anniversary) for its return.

The exotic or climatic appeal of the destination is obviously far from being the only criterion in the choice made by Jean Michel Baert's team, who explains: "Everyone knows our affinity for endurance racing, especially since our victory at the last 24 Hours of Spa. We also know that there's no substitute for racing in terms of training for our drivers and our technical team, and the opportunity to take part in a 24-hour event puts us right in the thick of things. The Dubai 24 Hours are ideal for this, especially since the adversity will be tough in terms of both numbers and quality, knowing that the best GT teams will be present as well as all the manufacturers. »

The two team’s crews at the start:

# 40 : Jamie DAY (GB) – Matisse LISMONT (Bel) – Kobe PAUWELS (Bel) – Tom VAN ROMPUY (Bel)

# 41 : Nicolas BAERT (Bel) - Viacheslav GUTAK (RU) – Dante RAPPANGE (NL) - TBC

Most of these drivers are regulars in the team - and there's a strong Belgian contingent with four of the eight drivers - and of course there's also the arrival for the event of Anglo-Emirati Jamie DAY, Viacheslav GUTAK and a driver still in the process of being confirmed.

Of the 65 cars entered, 30 are GT3s, most of them highly competitive. « The Dubai 24 Hours are now a real major event in the list of world endurance races, and we're far from taking part as dilettantes. We'll have to get to grips with the particular track design and, above all, with the Michelin tyres that will be fitted to all the competitors. As for the drivers, our line-up is coherent and even strengthened by the presence of Tom Van Rompuy, as well as that of Jamie Day, Matisse Lismont and Nicolas Baert, all three members of the Aston Martin Racing Academy.

Matisse, Kobe, Nicolas and Dante are some of our regular drivers, and they're steeped in the good spirit that reigns in our team, so they'll be able to welcome the new arrivals, quickly building up their confidence and putting together fast, consistent crews. We can't wait to see them all out on the track, and in a good position at the finish on Sunday. » adds François Verbist, Team Principal.