Chantal Prinz and HOFOR Racing fight back to secure GT3 AM podium in Dubai 24 Hours
- RACERS
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
Just one week a crash in Abu Dhabi, Chantal Prinz returned to the cockpit of the HOFOR Racing’s Mercedes AMG GT3 to complete a strong run to second place in the GT3 AM class at the Dubai 24 Hours.
Just one week a crash in Abu Dhabi, Chantal Prinz returned to the cockpit of the HOFOR Racing’s Mercedes AMG GT3 to complete a strong run to second place in the GT3 AM class at the Dubai 24 Hours.
The 21st running of the Michelin 24H Dubai traditionally opens the international endurance racing and featured a 66-car field and one of the strongest grids in the Creventic calendar. Arriving just one week after the six-hour race in Abu Dhabi, the Dubai 24 Hours marked the first 24-hour contest of the year and the final event of the Middle East Trophy.
Among the stories of determination in the paddock, was HOFOR Racing, returning only days after suffering a major setback in Abu Dhabi. During the opening stages of the six-hour race, Chantal Prinz had been running solidly when she was hit at the final corner and sent heavily into the barriers, forcing a retirement and leaving the Mercedes-AMG GT3 with significant damage. The Swiss squad rebuilt the car in time for Dubai, as Chantal Prinz will again share the car with Alexander Prinz, Torsten Kratz, Maximilian Partl and Manuel Metzger for the GT3 AM class assault.
Across free practice, the #11 Mercedes featured inside the overall top ten and sat third in the GT3 AM class. In qualifying, the combined effort of the three selected drivers produced a best aggregate lap of 1:58.130, placing the team 16th overall on the massive grid and, crucially, second in GT3 AM, putting them in podium contention.
Alexander Prinz took the start for HOFOR Racing as the field roared into action at Dubai Autodrome. The opening lap was frantic, with cars running three-wide through the opening sector, and a Code 60 neutralisation was already required before the end of the first tour following contacts in the tightly packed midfield. When the race returned to green, Alexander Prinz settled into a controlled rhythm, holding third position in GT3 AM as the first hour ticked by and the field began to stretch.
The first strategic decisions arrived when a stranded Mercedes triggered a Code 60 during the pit window; HOFOR managed the timing well, avoiding loss, and during the next stop Chantal Prinz took over the #11 Mercedes running fourth in GT3 AM. Another caution soon followed for a stranded Porsche, prompting a further fuel stop as the team topped off.
Back under green after almost two hours, Chantal Prinz maintained fourth in class despite some inevitable position shuffling as differing pit sequences played out. At the two-hour mark, the race was again neutralised when the Ajith RedAnt Racing Mercedes suffered an engine failure and caught fire, bringing another extended Code 60.
During the caution, HOFOR pitted and handed over to Manuel Metzger. A relatively long green-flag run followed before a crash at Turn 1 again slowed the field. Under that Code 60, Metzger stopped and Torsten Kratz climbed aboard, rejoining 11th overall and fourth in GT3 AM.
As the sun dipped lower and the desert light began to soften, Maximilian Partl took over the Mercedes.
Running 11th overall and third in GT3 AM, he consolidated the team’s position. Another round of pit stops was triggered at the six-hour mark when debris brought out yet another caution, followed soon after by the Winward Mercedes stopping on circuit, causing a further Code 60 with just over 16 hours remaining. Partl stopped under caution, and when green-flag racing resumed, Alexander Prinz returned to the cockpit, now running third in GT3 AM. The rhythm of the race continued to be punctuated by some incidents, including a heavy crash for one of the leading Red Camel Porsche 992 entries that required barrier repairs.
Later in the evening, Partl was back in the car and pitted from second in GT3 AM during another neutralisation, the team seizing the opportunity to complete a brake change. Alexander Prinz then rejoined, and the HOFOR Mercedes settled into a remarkably solid night run, consistently circulating inside the class podium positions.
Approaching the 14-hour mark, the #31 Mercedes stopped on circuit, once again triggering Code 60. Alexander Prinz pitted from third in GT3 AM and, shortly after the restart, suffered a brief spin. He was able to rejoin without losing a position, keeping the car firmly in third.
With eight hours remaining, Manuel Metzger took over. Dawn soon followed, bathing the circuit in orange light as the Dubai skyline emerged from the night. Chantal Prinz then returned to the car for her second stint, with the team holding a two-lap cushion over the next GT3 AM competitor.
The closing third of the race was anything but calm. The Into Africa Ferrari suffered rear damage, scattering debris and causing further barrier repairs. As racing resumed, a huge accident for the Rossa GT entry of Roman Rusinov immediately brought out another caution and another massive shunt eliminated the #777 Ferrari of Al Zubair, damaging the barriers and forcing yet another prolonged caution.
Maximilian Partl took over once again as the race restarted with just over three hours remaining, and as the final phase began, lap times across the field got quicker.
Torsten Kratz then climbed into the #11 Mercedes for the push toward the final stint. HOFOR Racing ran third in GT3 AM, two laps behind second place but with a comfortable margin to the car behind. Manuel Metzger followed for the closing phase as the race entered its final hour.
Another crash, this time involving the #925 Porsche at Turn 9, set up a 30-minute sprint to the flag. Then came a decisive twist: with just over 20 minutes remaining, the GT3 AM-leading Paradine BMW suffered a dramatic brake disc failure that destroyed a tyre and forced a lengthy pit stop, dropping it out of podium contention.
Metzger seized the opportunity and passed the BMW to move HOFOR Racing into second place in GT3 AM with ten minutes left. Although the #11 Mercedes was then forced to make a final splash of fuel, the advantage was sufficient to retain the position. Metzger brought the car safely to the chequered flag 12th overall and, crucially, second in the GT3 AM class.
After the heartbreak suffered just one week earlier in Abu Dhabi, HOFOR Racing’s Dubai result represented a remarkable turnaround, with a hard-earned second place for Chantal Prinz and the highly experienced Swiss squad.
