Anahilt’s Dan drives to victory in 24-hour race

Anahilt’s Dan drives to victory in 24-hour race

15 January 2025

ANAHILT driver Dan Harper started the new year in style when he secured his first ever 24-hour race win with an emphatic victory in Dubai.

The 24 year-old put in a faultless performance to claim the 24 Hours of Dubai for BMW and Team WRT alongside teammates Max Hesse, Darren Leung, Ben Tuck and Al Faisal Al Zubair in their first outing of 2025.

He went into the season opener with previous experience of the Dubai Autodrome from the 2024 Asian Le Mans campaign under his belt, but was still in unfamiliar territory in what was his first taste of day-long endurance racing at the track.

Multiple days of testing brought Harper back up to speed as he became acquainted with the new BMW M4 GT3 EVO, before heading into the qualifying sessions.

The qualifying phase kicked off on Friday evening and Harper quickly impressed, setting the fourth fastest lap time.

His German colleague, Hesse, got the team off to a flying start as he claimed the lead within the hour mark.

Teammates Leung, Tuck and Al Zubair protected the team’s place in the leading pack, despite differing pitstop strategies amongst the grid, and provided Harper with a pedestal to drive into contention.

The Anahilt man took the wheel as the nighttime racing approached and he continued to make haste when some of their opponents succumbed to issues in the darkness.

With daylight illuminating the track once more, the BMW team found themselves in a dog fight with a pair of Porsche competitors.

Harper showed his class with his final turn in the driving seat and as he pulled clear of his nearest rivals, he provided Hesse with significant breathing room to bring the car home to victory.

The BMW/Team WRT quintet eventually enjoyed a comfortable finish, soaring across the line a lap clear of second place.

Speaking after his win, Harper said: “I’m absolutely delighted to get my first win in a 24-hour race.

It feels like it’s been a long time coming, particularly after having such good runs at Nürburgring and Spa last year, so it’s a special moment. Hopefully this is the first of many.

“We weren’t the fastest car through the race, but we worked hard to maximise the package we had.

“We all stayed fast and consistent on track, keeping out of trouble and making no mistakes, while the team pulled off some fantastic strategy calls in a tricky race.”

He added: “A huge thank you to the whole team at Al Manar Racing and Team WRT for their hard work, and to my team-mates.

“This was the perfect way to start 2025 and hopefully this is just the beginning of a really successful season.”