Dragon Racing Newsletter #18 December 2016

News and updates from Dragon Racing in the United Arab Emirates

NEWSLETTER #18 / DECEMBER 2016

2016 GULF 12 HOURS RACE REPORT

The Dragon Racing team recorded a memorable weekend at the sixth running of the Gulf 12 Hours at Yas Marina Circuit on December 17th.

Following a tightly fought battle between the Blancpain Sprint Series winning Ferrari 488 GT3 of Kessel Racing, Matt Griffin, Nic Minassian and Rob Barff finished runner-up overall in the Dragon Racing Ferrari 488 GT3. Never more than a minute and thirty seconds apart for the whole 12 Hours the race was a scintillating duel between the pair of Ferrari's.

Bill Martin (who came to Dragon a novice just 12 months ago), French National rally champion Sylvain Michel (in his first ever endurance car race) and Dragon driver coach Zaamin Jaffer took a stunning second place in the GTX category in the Dragon Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport. A particularly special result for the GTX squad given their comparatively modest experience of endurance racing.

Dragons Race Director Rob Barff commented, "I'm hugely impressed by the drivers in the Cayman, in particular Bill and Sylvain. Bill came to Dragon through the UAE Ferrari Owners Club & we ran him in his GT86 last season before he upgraded to the Porsche but this was his very first International endurance race. And Sylvain had never sat in the car before the first test session however he adapted his style beautifully and to achieve a podium finish is extremely rewarding".

Despite a long Safety Car period in the first half of the race, both Dragon cars adapted their strategies successfully, pushed hard for the whole race and enjoyed a smooth, trouble-free run to the chequered flag.

Click here for the full gallery of images at our Facebook page

TOYOTA TRD 86 CUP NEWS

Dragon Racings Toyota GT86 star driver Gregory Pain continued his recent run of impressive form with a pair of hard fought runner-up places at the most recent Toyota TRD 86 Cup meeting at Yas Marina circuit.

Providing the support billing to the Gulf 12 Hours, Greg was always 'in the mix' at head of the field, he delivered two gritty and determined drives to bring home a brace of second place trophies.

The TRD 86 Cup now enjoys a mid-season break before battle recommences back at Yas Marina in February 2017.

DRAGON F4 UPDATE

Dragon F4 are excited to announce that Young Racing Driver Academy star Oscar Piastri has signed for the UAE F4 series. Oscar has starred in the in the WSK OK Junior karting category this season and comes into the UAE F4 series following a strong performance at the CIK FIA OK Junior world finals in Bahrain.

Oscars first ever race weekend in a car was supporting the Gulf 12 Hours at Yas Marina over the weekend of the 16th and 17th December. Despite this being Oscar’s first outing in the Tatuus F4 car, Oscar acquitted himself very professionally, showing consistent improvement throughout the whole race meeting gaining valuable experience racing a car for the first time. The UAE F4 series offers an unrivaled amount of track time per weekend and Oscar has his sights fixed firmly fixed on a podium finish at the next race weekend at Dubai Autodrome on the 25th-28th January.

Dragon F4 still have one seat available alongside Oscar for the remaining rounds of the championship. For further information and to secure your seat in the Dragon F4 squad, click the button beneath.

Click here to inquire further

NGK RACING SERIES REPORT - DUBAI ENDURO

The first Enduro format event of the NGK National Racing Series of the 2016-2017 season took place at the Dubai Autodrome on December 10th running on the full Grand Prix Circuit. Leon Price, Jordan Grogor and Rob Barff shared the Dragon Racing Ferrari 458 GT3 Italia and following their early first driver change strategy, dominated from the half way point onwards. Back in the pack Bill Martin and Zaamin Jaffer kept up their winning partnership by taking the Class 4 honours in Bills Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport. The NGK Series now takes it's traditional mid-season break as the teams focus on the Gulf 12 Hour and Dubai 24 Hour races but returns to Dubai over the weekend of the 27th and 28th January 2017.

As always, Dragon have a broad range of race cars to hire, so if any EU licenced competitors feel the need for for some sunny winter testing and racing under clear blue skies then please click the button beneath to inquire further.

Click here to inquire further

DRAGON RETURN TO THE SAUDI GT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP

Once again Dragon Racing are supplying technical and engineering support to a McLaren racing within the Saudi GT Cup Championship. Last years winner, H.R.H. Mohammad Bin Faisal Al Saud, has upgraded from his McLaren 650S GT Sprint to the GT3 derivative and this year is competing under the Saudi Arrows banner. Joining him in the Saudi Arrows team are an Audi R8 LMS GT3, being driven by H.R.H Mohammad Bin Saud Al Saud and a Radical RXC GT3, driven by Reem Race Circuit General Manager Raed Abuzinadah.

The first event of the season took place at Reem International Race Circuit on November 26th with the Audi R8 leading home the McLaren 6560S by only 7.4 seconds.

A late change of date saw the second race of the season take place on Saturday 17th December, the same weekend as the Gulf 12 Hours. But Dragon managed to assemble a top International team to run the McLaren and H.R.H. Mohammad Bin Faisal Al Saud duly delivered by turning in a fantastic drive and taking victory in dominant style.

We hope to collect more silverware when we return to Saudi Arabia for Round 3 of the Saudi GT Cup Championship at Reem over the weekend of the 20th and 21st January 2017.

MOTORSPORT WEDNESDAY'S GATHER MOMENTUM

We are delighted to announce that our Motorsport Wednesday's continue to gather in popularity and wish to pass on a big 'thank you' to everyone who has supported these events over the past three months. Offering additional, valuable track time to both closed and open wheel racing cars plus the chance for enthusiastic track day drivers to enjoy their performance road cars in a safe and controlled environment.

The 'Pre-Gulf 12 Hour' Motorsport Wednesday was attended by over 75 drivers, driving 30 cars split between the GT and Single Seater sessions. Dragon hosted six guests from our friends at Kessel Racing in our Ferrari 458 Challenge+ fleet and supplied a McLaren 650S GT Sprint to one McLaren owner to experience the track derivative of his own road car.

The next Motorsport Wednesday takes place at Dubai on the International Circuit on Wednesday the 25th January. where Dragon Racing will have available to hire;

UAE F4 Tatuus Single Seaters
Ferrari 458 Challenge+'s
McLaren GT Sprints
'DR Edition' Toyota GT86
Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport

Please click the button beneath to inquire further

Click here for further Motorsport Wednesday information

FERRARI 333SP RESTORATION CONTINUES

Ferrari 333SP chassis number 006 continues it's ground-up renovation at Michelotto Automobili in Padova, Italy. Under the watchful eye of Walter Plebani the car has been completely stripped back to the bare carbon fibre tub and is now going through the early stages of repainting. Once the painting has been completed (using the same painting processes and techniques as 1995) the rebuild will continue into 2017 when the car will be returned to exactly the same condition as it left the factory. Further updates will be posted as the work continues.

UAE FERRARI OWNERS CLUB AT YAS MARINA

And finally, the team at Dragon Racing supported the President of the Ferrari Owners Club UAE, Tani Hanna, and all our friends at the UAE FOC at their recent Yas Marina track evening on the 8th December. Whilst Corse Clienti instructors showcased the latest technology from Maranello - 488 GTB & GTC4 Lusso - Dragon Racing ran a brace of 458 Challenge+ for 'Taste of Dragon' customers and high speed passenger rides for a lucky few guests!

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