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Mercedes muscle to the front early in 24 Hours of Dubai

The Fach Auto Tech Porsche started the race from pole position and led early on, but within the first three hours Mercedes took control of the race.

#2 Black Falcon Mercedes SLS AMG GT3: Abdulaziz Al Faisal, Hubert Haupt, Yelmer Buurman, Oliver Webb

#2 Black Falcon Mercedes SLS AMG GT3: Abdulaziz Al Faisal, Hubert Haupt, Yelmer Buurman, Oliver Webb

Eric Gilbert

#3 Abu Dhabi Racing Black Falcon Mercedes SLS AMG GT3: Khaled Al Qubaisi, Jeroen Bleekemolen, Bernd Schneider, Andreas Simonsen
#12 Fach Auto Tech Porsche 997 GT3 R: Otto Klohs, Martin Ragginger, Jens Richter, Sven Müller
#3 Abu Dhabi Racing Black Falcon Mercedes SLS AMG GT3: Khaled Al Qubaisi, Jeroen Bleekemolen, Bernd Schneider, Andreas Simonsen
Start: #12 Fach Auto Tech Porsche 997 GT3 R: Otto Klohs, Martin Ragginger, Jens Richter, Sven Müller leads #2 Black Falcon Mercedes SLS AMG GT3: Abdulaziz Al Faisal, Hubert Haupt, Yelmer Buurman, Oliver Webb
Abdulaziz Al Faisal
Start: #12 Fach Auto Tech Porsche 997 GT3 R: Otto Klohs, Martin Ragginger, Jens Richter, Sven Müller leads #2 Black Falcon Mercedes SLS AMG GT3: Abdulaziz Al Faisal, Hubert Haupt, Yelmer Buurman, Oliver Webb
#10 GTRussian Mercedes SLS AMG GT3: Alexey Vasilyev, Marko Asmer, Karim Al Azhari, Kevin Korjus, #25 Black Falcon Porsche 991 Cup: Burkard Kaiser, Manuel Metzger, Christian Raubach

At 14.00 local time, His Highness Sheikh Juma al Maktoum and Dr. Mohammed Ben Sulayem president of the ATCUAE each waved a United Arab Emirates national flag to unleash the field of 89 cars for this year's tenth running of the Hankook 24 Hours of Dubai held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council.

The Fach Auto Tech Porsche team of Otto Klohs, Martin Ragginger, Jens Richter and Sven Muller started the race from pole position and led early on, but within the first three hours Mercedes took control hogging the top four positions with the Black Falcon cars first and second.

The number two car of Abdulaziz Al Faisal, Hubert Haupt, Yelmer Buurman and Oliver Webb leading from the sister Abu Dhabi Racing backed car in the hands of UAE's Khaled Al Qubaisi, Jeroen Bleekemolen, Bernd Schneider and Andreas Simonsen.

In third place was the GT Russia Mercedes with multiple UAE champion Karim Al Azhari sharing the cockpit with Alexey Vasilyev, Marko Asmer, Karim Al Azhari and Kevin Korjus with the SPS Automotive Performance Mercedes in fourth.

UAE based teams battling in all classes

UAE based teams and drivers were battling it out a the sharp end of their respective classes, with the Memac Ogilvy Duel Racing SEAT leading the A3T class and the Lap57 Honda slugging it out among the top three in the A2 Class.

The race will run until 14:00 on Saturday when the chequered flag will wave to bring proceedings to an end, followd by the traditional podium ceremony.

Throughout the two race days the Dubai Autodrome paddock will be a hive of activity with a myriad of off-track entertainment and attractions for the whole family, with free entry to the circuit - including access to grandstands and paddock area.

Dubai Autodrome

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