Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Sat 30th, November: The highly anticipated SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024 began yesterday with a thrilling display of motorsport at the iconic Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The event, which spans two action-packed evenings of intense racing, features two of the most prestigious motorsport competitions in the world: The headlining Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS – a six-hour endurance race covering 1,000 kilometers, making history as Saudi Arabia’s longest-ever circuit race – and the GT4 European Series Powered by RAFA Racing Club, which pits some of the worlds’ most elite drivers against each other in the quest for glory in the Championship’s final round.
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit – the fastest street circuit in the world – provided a dramatic backdrop for the opening day’s events. The evening began with the Qualifying sessions for the GT4 European Series, where drivers were split into Groups A and B to secure their positions on the starting grid. The Qualifying sessions were marked by intense competition, with drivers pushing their cars to the absolute limit.
As night fell, the circuit came alive with the first race of the GT4 European Series’ championship finale. The race delivered breathtaking overtakes, strategic manoeuvres, and intense battles throughout the field. In a dramatic turn of events, Benjamin Lariche and Robert Consani from “Team Speedcar” driving an Audi R8 LMS GT4, clinched victory despite starting from fourth position. Thomas Emson and Alex Denning onboard a McLaren Artura GT4 claimed second place, trailing the winners by 3.642 seconds, while their teammates, Thomas Lebbon and Joshua Rattican, who had secured pole position in Qualifying 1, rounded off the podium, finishing 2.117 seconds behind the runners-up.
The afternoon’s second qualifying session determined the starting grid for Race 2, with Race 1 winners Lariche and Consani taking pole position. They were followed by Emson and Denning of Elite Motorsport, while Ricardo Van der Ende and Benjamin Lessennes from Team L’Espace Bienvenue claimed third. This lineup sets the stage for an intense and unforgettable championship finale tomorrow
Today promises an equally thrilling conclusion to this landmark event. The day will begin with the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Qualifying sessions, a critical moment for teams preparing for the six-hour endurance race. In the afternoon, the GT4 European Series will return for its second and final race, where the series champions will be crowned.
As anticipation builds for the final day, the SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024 has already cemented itself as a historic event for Saudi Arabia’s motorsport scene. With world-class drivers, state-of-the-art racing technology, and the breathtaking setting of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, this weekend is proving itself to be an unforgettable celebration of speed, skill, and innovation.
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About SMC
SMC is the dedicated commercial entity established to bring the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s motorsport events under a single umbrella and is the first body in Saudi Arabia dedicated to commercializing motorsport at a national level.
SMC acts as the local promoter for KSA’s growing motorsports events portfolio which currently includes the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the world-renowned Dakar Rally as well as an annual round of the ground-breaking Extreme E series.
These recurring major motorsports events are delivering directly against the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 with each committed to long-term deals that have helped Saudi Arabia to develop an unrivalled portfolio that is not replicated anywhere else in the world.
