12 January 2014

Webb drives through the pain to claim debut podium at Dunlop 24H Dubai

Series:             Dunlop 24H Dubai

Track:              Dubai Autodrome, Dubai

Track length:  5.390 km (3.349 mi)

Date:                09-11 January 2014

Qualifying:   Pos. 20;  Time: 2m05.065;  +7.783s

Main Race: Pos. 2 (Pro-Am) / Pos. 8 (overall)

Oliver Webb scored another strong result in a GT championship race this weekend as he made his debut at the gruelling Dunlop 24H Dubai, in his first competitive outing in the rhino’s Leipert Motorsport Lamborghini Gallardo GT3. The young Brit overcame a challenging final stint, driving through severe pain, to help the team to a hard-fought second place in the Pro-Am class and a top-10 finish overall.

Webb was among a multi-national line-up, sharing the cockpit of the Lamborghini with Isaac Tutumlu Lopez (ESP), Jan Stovicek (CZE), Yoshihari Mori (JPN) andJeroen Mul (NED). The BRDC driver lined up on the grid for the start of the race, making an immediate impression and moving through the field in his opening stint. The heat and the dusty conditions were a real challenge throughout the opening half of the race, and Webb watched from the garages as the team’s race almost ended prematurely following a collision with a competitor as the sun went down. However, the damage sustained was minimal, and the #10 Gallardo GT3 pushed on, and Webb took over for the demanding night session. Once again, his race craft and determination showed through, and the Knutsford-born driver helped keep his team in contention as the sun rose over the Dubai Autodrome.

As the clock ticked down, the team was still in contention for a podium finish, and was pushing for the overall lead in the Pro-Am category. With 90 minutes left of his final stint, the 22-year old Brit’s leg became trapped in the car, causing muscle spasms and severe pain. Webb was battling hard for position, and a pitstopwould have lost precious time, so he drove through the pain to maintain position and help bring the car home with an impressive second place on Webb’s debut – both in the car and at the demanding 24 hour race at Dubai’s 5.39 km Autodrome circuit.

Webb received a routine check-up at the circuit medical centre following his final stint, and was released before the end of the race.

Commenting on the result, Webb explained: ‘What a great start to the 2014 season! We were competitive all weekend, and the team did a great job. It was afantastic experience, working with rhino’s LeipertMotorsport, and the Gallardo performed well throughout, with us challenging for class victory right up until the end.

‘Any 24 hour race is a real challenge, and we worked well together to put the car in a strong position throughout the race, overcoming a few minor setbacks. The track was dusty, and running at night always adds a new challenge, but my final double stint was definitely the most difficult part for me. The pain was extreme, but I knew that if I stopped, that would be the end of any podium hopes. The feeling of relief when I finally got out of the car was incredible, but I was checked over by the course doctor and made it up on to the podium at the end of the race! It is great to have scored a podium finish with the team, and we were firmly in the top 10 overall which is a really strong result‘.

For information on Oliver Webb, visitwww.oliwebbracing.com or follow him on twitter,www.twitter.com/oliverjameswebb.

Oliver Webb