Team WRT takes fifth victory at Dubai 24H with a perfect 1–2

Another desert triumph for Team WRT, securing a dominant 1–2 in Dubai and sealing the team’s 71st and 72nd titles. Team WRT lined up for the twice‑around‑the‑clock challenge with two BMW M4 GT3 EVO machines. Starting from P4, the #669 of Kelvin van der Linde, Jordan Pepper, Ben Tuck, Fran Rueda and Anthony McIntosh immediately set the tone, taking the lead on the opening lap and controlling the race from the front. From P7 on the grid, the #27 BMW driven by Christopher Haase, Mathieu Detry, Julian Hanses, Thomas Kiefer and Stanislav Minskiy was never far behind, consistently fighting at the front and steadily climbing the order to secure P2 at the finish, locking in a perfect 1–2 for Team WRT.

Both crews delivered outstanding consistency in a demanding race that featured 22 Code‑60 periods, totalling 4h21 under neutralisation. Despite the interruptions, the team executed flawlessly: no mistakes, no penalties, and spot‑on strategy with perfectly managed fuel saving. With 370 laps led by the #669 and 42 more by the #27, WRT spent 412 of 604 laps at the front, a clear demonstration of the team’s dominance.

This triumph marks Team WRT’s fifth victory at the 24 Hours of Dubai, the third win in four years with the BMW M4 GT3, and the team’s 12th victory in a 24‑hour race, including the 10th overall win. With this latest success, WRT now stands as joint record holder for the most wins at the Dubai 24H, alongside Black Falcon. The weekend brought further success as Team WRT secured its 71st and 72nd titles, taking the Middle East Trophy Teams’ Championship and the Drivers’ crown, earned by Anthony McIntosh through P2 in Abu Dhabi and victory at Dubai.

The spotlight now moves to the United States and the 24 Hours of Daytona, set to mark Team WRT’s first outing in the GTP class. The ROAR before the 24, completed this weekend, provided highly positive feedback as the team enters this new challenge.

Kelvin VAN DER LINDE, driver #669: "Just wrapped up the 24 Hours of Dubai. A pretty special moment to share the win with Jordan, his first victory with BMW M Motorsport. The team did an amazing job. As we know, these guys are masters of strategy, and we knew we had the best in the business behind us. On the driving side, we managed to bring it home, save a bit of fuel along the way, and cross the line with just enough to finish. Super proud of everyone! Huge thanks to Team WRT. A fantastic way to start the year!”

Jordan PEPPER, driver #669: "Extremely happy and really proud to kick‑start my journey as a BMW M Works Driver with a victory. I couldn’t have asked for a better start. Coming to Dubai, the main goal was simply to get comfortable in the car before heading to Bathurst. Obviously, we always enter a race aiming to win, and I think we showed what great teamwork and a true team effort can achieve. I’m proud of my teammates for the incredible job on track, and of the engineers for their strategic work. That’s actually where I think the biggest gain was. I’m looking forward to many more races and successes with BMW M Motorsport. Sharing this win with Kelvin makes it even more special. It’s one I’ll cherish forever and a race I’ll always look back on with great memories.”

Anthony MCINTOSH, driver #669: "What a perfect weekend! One that originally began as simple testing for the remaining Asian Le Mans Series rounds and the upcoming WEC season. And look what it turned into! It was truly magical. The whole team came together, we achieved a great result in Abu Dhabi, and now again at the Dubai 24H. I feel like we’re putting all the building blocks in place, and we’re on track for a magnificent season ahead. A huge thank you to WRT and to everyone who has supported me. I can’t wait for what’s next!”

Christopher HAASE, driver #27: "The race has been incredibly exciting. Since my long Audi Sport career, it had been a while since I had the chance to drive another brand. I was really excited about driving the BMW M4 GT3 EVO, and I’m pleasantly surprised by everything. I loved the car, the pace was strong, and the team did an amazing job. They worked with us on every single detail. I’m super happy with this new experience, and to take a podium on my first race with this brand is just amazing. Thanks to my teammates, to Stanislav and to Team WRT!”

Mathieu DETRY, driver #27: "A really nice race from our #27 car! We came in as the underdogs, with less experience than the sister car, but we can be proud of what we achieved! We were in the fight for the win right until the end. The car was incredible to drive, and the team did an amazing job with the pit stops and the strategy. The 1–2 for the team is a nice reward. It was such a great experience. Thank you to WRT and to my teammates!”