– Race announced as final round of the 2022 Intercontinental GT Challenge
– Gulf 12 Hours joins the elite of the world’s most important GT endurance races
– First cooperation between Driving Force Events and SRO Motorsports Group
The Gulf 12 Hours joins an elite group of the world’s top endurance GT races following its confirmation as the final race of the 2022 Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli season.
Scheduled on 11 December at its traditional home of Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, the Gulf 12 Hours will be the fourth race of the 2022 IGTC campaign, adding further excitement to the 12th edition of the glamorous event.
The announcement was made today at Spa-Francorchamps, during the annual press conference of SRO Motorsports Group during the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa event.
The Gulf 12 Hours therefore joins the Bathurst 12 Hours (15 May), the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa (31 July) and the Indianapolis 8 Hours (9 October) on the 2022 calendar.
While entries from the Intercontinental GT Challenge will add a new aspect to the event, the Gulf 12 Hours will continue as an independently organised, stand-alone race and will build upon the success of its previous 11 editions.
The Gulf 12 Hours is open to competitors in GT3 ProAm, GT3 Am, GT4 and Porsche 992 Cup classes, in addition to GT3 Pro teams registered for the Intercontinental GT Challenge, who will score points for their series.
Stephane Ratel, SRO Motorsports Group Founder and CEO: « The Gulf 12 Hours is the perfect event to close out this year’s Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli campaign. There is no better GT race nor circuit in the Middle East, IGTC can return to Asia for the first time since 2019, we share the same tyre partner, and the region is important for manufacturer activation. What’s more, and without SRO’s involvement, Andrea Ficarelli and his team have already assembled a strong provisional entry list from which IGTC nominations can be drawn. This will be further bolstered over the coming months before we head to Yas Island in December.
Andrea Ficarelli, head of Driving Force Events, promoter of the Gulf 12 Hours, said: « It’s great recognition for the Gulf 12 Hours, which joins the club of the world’s most important GT endurance races by becoming part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge.
« Seeing some of the world’s top GT3 Pro cars competing for the Intercontinental GT Challenge title within the Gulf 12 Hours field adds a new dimension and shows how our event has become well established within global endurance racing over the last decade.
« As well as welcoming the Intercontinental GT Challenge, the Gulf 12 Hours will remain a premium end-of-season event for gentlemen drivers racing in GT3 ProAm and GT3 Am, as well as for teams entering GT4 and Porsche 992 Cup.
« We look forward to experiencing our first cooperation with SRO Motorsports Group after several years of friendly conversations, and we will put maximum effort into making this cooperation a success. »