Aussies and Kiwis perform in Dubai

A host of Australian and New Zealand drivers shined at the Dubai 24 endurance race held with the worlds best last weekend.

Whilst the day-long enduro race was won by Team WRT BMW combination of Dan Harper, Darren Leung, Al Faisal Al Zubair, Ben Tuck and Max Hesse, there were plenty of local heroes.

They were led by the only full Australian combination of race that had 64 entires, Team 111.

Darren Currie, Axle Donaldson, Jake Camilleri and Mark Griffith drove a IRC GT to second place in the GTX class.

Being a 24 hour endurance test, it was far from an easy journey to the podium.

They were on the back foot early due to a starter motor failure in the early stages, which saw the car requiring a push start at each visit to the pits.

The car suffered damaged front left suspension which needed replacing, while the final challenge was a scary moment.

Axle Donaldson in the pits after a long stint behind the wheel. Image: Supplied

A right rear puncture caused a high speed spin and a 4km drive to the pits on a destroyed tyre, but they were able to recover the lost time.

After 505 laps of racing the #111 IRC GT finished second to Leipert Motorsport, but importantly 114 laps clear of their nearest rival.

The team will reappear at the Abu Dhabi 5 hour with Currie and Camilleri behind the wheel.

That Leipert Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO II was spearheaded by Kiwi Brendon Leitch.

Leitch and his four teammates JJ Song, Gerhard Watzinger, Don Youn, and Takis dominated GT honours, leading every lap and never being challenged.

They finished a huge 37 laps clear and crushed to victory, but it was not without dramas.

A collision with a GT3 car and a spin then a stall just after sunrise cost some time.

However they were able to still maintain their lead and never get challenged.

Brendon Leitch was fast in the Lamborghini. Image: Supplied

“It was a fun race! We had great speed, the team did a fantastic job. It was almost perfect if not for a few contacts in the night and a spin in the day,” said Leitch, who will next be taking on the Bathurst 12 Hour.

“I really enjoyed doing another 24 hour race and I’m looking forward to the next one already.”

There were significant celebrations in the Ajith Kumar Racing Team garage with PremiAir Supercars co-driver Cameron McLeod belong them to a special podium.

McLeod helped Ajith Kumar, Mathieu Detry and Fabian Duffieux drive to third place in the 992 class.

Cameron McLeod joins in the celebrations for his team’s class podium at Dubai.

It was met with big celebrations both in the garage and on the track as the quarter raced Indian flags with pride.

They managed to beat the HRT Performance Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car by 50s to stand on the podium in third.

“What a week! P3 in class after 24 hours, Thank you everyone for the support. Can’t wait for more!” McLeod wrote on social media.

The Abu Dhabi 6 Hour awaits this weekend at Yas Marina.

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