Jeroen Bleekemolen sets flying pace as Team Abu Dhabi Racing Black Falcon start 24H Dubai on pole

Team Abu Dhabi Black Falcon will begin the 24H Dubai from pole position. Handout photo

DUBAI // Buoyed by two of the fastest lap times in qualifying, Jeroen Bleekemolen has backed Team Abu Dhabi Racing Black Falcon to end their three-year wait for a third 24H Dubai title this weekend.

Bleekemolen, who was part of the Abu Dhabi Racing team who won the 24H Dubai title in 2012 and 2013, clocked 1 minute, 57.705 seconds on his first lap in yesterday’s qualifying, the third lap overall for the team’s Mercedes AMG GT3.

He came back following a 15-minute pit break to clock an even quicker 1:57.449 on the 5.39-kilometre Dubai Autodrome circuit. That time was “deleted” because the yellow flags were out on that lap.

Still, the earlier lap was good enough to book pole position for Abu Dhabi Racing for the race that starts at 2pm on Friday.

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Behind them will be the GRT Grasser Racing Team’s Lamborghini Huracan GT3, who ran a 1:57.822 on their 10th lap through Mirko Bortolotti.

“I have been with Abu Dhabi Racing for six or seven years and we have won it twice, but it’s been a while,” said Bleekemolen, who will share driving duties with the UAE’s Khaled Al Qubaisi and the German duo of Patrick Assenheimer and Manuel Metzger.

“It’s about time to fight again for the win.

“I think the competition has become stronger every single year, so it’s getting harder every year. But I feel we have one of the best opportunities now. It’s a great team, great car … the line-up is fantastic.

“In practise, all the drivers did a really good job. So I have never felt so confident going into the race. But, again, it’s nearly 100 cars [competing] and so anything can happen to anyone.”

Applauding his pole-winning teammate, Al Qubaisi said: “Jeroen is a really fast driver and we always count on him to deliver a great lap and he didn’t fail to impress us this time as well.

“It is good to start from the front because you don’t want to be caught in the traffic.”

Traffic has cost Abu Dhabi Racing dearly the past two years in their home race of the Creventic 24H Series. They were forced out of the race on both occasions following contact with slower cars.

With 95 cars on the grid, Bleekemolen said managing the traffic and minimising risks will once again be crucial.

“My first lap, which in the end was the pole lap, I still had some traffic,” said Bleekemolen, who had to contend with 49 cars in qualifying because the session was split.

“So yeah, it’s tough and it’s going to be crazy in the race, to be honest, with all the cars out there. It’s going to be a big challenge for all of us.

“You have to be really patient. You have to give up times sometimes, you know, not risk too much because even one per cent of risk can catch you out. You have to keep that in mind: risk management.”

Pole Position

1. #2 (2 is the car number) Abu Dhabi Racing Black Falcon

2. #963 GRT Grasser Racing Team

3. #911 Herberth Motorsport (Car: Porsche 991 GT3 R)

4. #14 Optimum Motorsport (Car: Audi R8 LMS)

5. #3 Black Falcon (Mercedes AMG GT3)

6. #12 Manthey Racing (Porsche 991 GT3 R)

7. #964 GRT Grasser Racing Team (Car – Lamborghini Huracan GT3)

8. #76 Imsa Performance (Car: Porsche 991 GT3 R)

9. #4 Belgian Audi Club WRT (Car: Audi R8 LMS)

10. #29 Forch Racing powered by Olimp (Car: Porsche 991 GT3 R)

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