A decade of racing 24H Dubai and Phil Quaife still not asking for a break

English driver Phil Quaife of Memac Ogilvy Duel Racing before the 24H Dubai pole qualifying at the Dubai Autodrome in Dubai. Satish Kumar / The National

A regular at 24H Dubai since its second edition in 2007, Quaife talks to Ahmed Rizvi about his memories and plans for this weekend, where he will race for honours in the Class 991.

What keeps bringing you back to Dubai?

“It’s very exciting. I have been in a number of cars for the past 10 years, ranging from GT to Touring cars. This year, I am driving in the Porsche 911 Cup with Memac Ogilvy Duel Racing. I enjoy the atmosphere here and the racing is fantastic. The 24H Dubai is one of the highlights of the year and it’s great that it’s in January because it’s in the off-season.”

Can you talk about the changes you have witnessed in the 24H Dubai over the years?

“A lot has changed. When I first joined 10 years ago, it was more of a club event. Now you have some of the best teams from around the world coming here to race. That makes it really special, to be a part of the progression of the championship and to still be here now.”

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What are your expectations this year?

“We have the same team, same drivers, but it’s a new car. So we are going to be pushing incredibly hard and just try to be consistent. These 24-hour races are spin races, so there is no time to let up. We’re going to keep pushing and see where we are in the early hours of the morning [tomorrow] and make our strategy there.”

There will be nearly 100 cars on the grid.

“This race is growing every year. It’s become so competitive. It’s very exciting. You have a [near] six-kilometre circuit with nearly a 100 cars. So, especially in the Porsche this weekend, we are going to be overtaking a lot of people. You are never going to get a clear lap in 24 hours, so you’ve got to be alert. You’ve got to be pretty consistent, and you’ve got to stay out of trouble.”

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