Ahmad al Harthy is one of the most accomplished Bronze drivers in global GT racing. Among his international success, the Omani can count a pair of GT World Challenge Endurance Cup titles and a win at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, all in the Pro-Am class.
But his career behind the wheel is always likely to be defined by a single race at Monza in 2024. Not that there's anything wrong with this: after all, he was part of the Bronze Cup crew that stormed to an incredible overall victory at the Temple of Speed.
A quick reminder: a Bronze Cup line-up consists of one amateur (Bronze), one semi-pro (Silver), and one professional driver (Gold or Platinum). In 2024, Team WRT entered a BMW M4 under the OQ by Oman Racing banner, which was shared by Ahmad Al Harthy, Sam de Haan and Jens Klingmann.
Across a three-hour race distance, a Bronze Cup crew is usually the slowest of the four classes. In normal circumstances, finishing in the top half of the field can be considered a very good showing. However, the key objective is to fight for class honours – the overall result is not especially important.
This remarkable three-hour contest can be summed up as a battle between raw speed and strategic thinking. It began with a pre-event rule amendment, which saw an extra mandatory pit stop added to the teams' agendas. Al Harthy takes up the story.
"It was like any other race weekend for us. We were looking to get the best we could in our category, and we honestly didn't worry about what's going on around us. We were focusing on our own mission.
"After qualifying, my race engineer Will [McKelvie] came to myself and Jens – Sam wasn't around at the time – and told us that he'd figured something out. He asked me how much risk I was willing to take; it had been a tough season for us, so I told him I was ready to take as much risk as possible.
"That got a big smile from Will and he explained that if there was an accident on the first lap, we might be able to do an interesting strategy. It was a calculated risk.
"Sam used to start the races and I would do the middle stint. As a Bronze, I am more comfortable running in clean air. But this time, even though Sam was starting, Will told me I needed to be ready straight away. I asked why and he told me not to ask questions – I just needed to be ready! Then, when an accident happened [at Turn 1], Will started giving me the signal to put on my helmet...”
Just as Will had anticipated, there was a crash at the opening corner – the kind seen in countless races at Monza – as well as a second incident later in the lap. This required a safety car intervention, which is just what the team needed to put their strategy into play.
The race was won by a sequence of pit stops which took place over the next few laps. Unbeknown to pretty much everyone, the BMW was completing its mandatory stops and, with the safety car slowing the pack, staying on the lead lap.
"Everybody assumed that we had damage," laughs Al Harthy. "In fact, our car was as fresh as it could be – there wasn't a scratch on it!
De Haan stayed at the wheel after making the first stop, while Al Harthy climbed aboard during the second. He ran one lap then came back in to make the car's third and final mandatory stop, handing back to De Haan.
From this point onwards, the team was running a sprint race with rapid-fire pit stops. Al Harthy drove the middle phase, but it was only when he handed to Klingmann for the final hour that the shape of things became clear.
"After my stint, I told Sam that we could have a chance of a podium. He replied, 'What's wrong with you, Ahmad, of course we've got a chance at a podium!' But he was referring to the Bronze Cup. I told him I thought an overall podium was possible..."
It was even better than that. The sister Team WRT BMW looked to be heading for the win, but Dries Vanthoor made light contact with an Audi shortly after his final stop. This allowed Klingmann – who had recently made a quick stop-and-go – to edge into the overall lead.
In these circumstances, it would be logical for Team WRT to move its Bronze Cup car aside and allow the Pro car to take the win. By doing so, both would score maximum points in their respective championships.
But this was not an option due to the rapid progress of the AF Corse Ferrari. Starting from pole, this was unquestionably the fastest car of the weekend. Victory looked certain until the strategic element became clear, but now Alessandro Pier Guidi was on a charge, smashing the lap record as he sought to close down the BMW duo.
Swapping positions at the front would have risked losing time to the flying Ferrari. Despite his best efforts Pier Guidi could not pass Vanthoor, allowing Klingmann to take the chequered flag and seal an incredible win.
"This is what teamwork is about,” says Al Harthy. “You have an engineer who has an idea, drivers who execute it, and a team behind the scenes making sure everything is done correctly in the pit stops. It wasn't one person that made this result possible: it was a group of individuals who did it together. I don't think in any other sport you've got this much collaboration with so many different people.”
While taking nothing away from his teammates, the win was particularly special for Al Harthy, who became the first Omani driver to win a major international circuit race. As someone who has always flown his country's flag with pride, it was a day to remember.
"It was very, very special for me as the first circuit racer from my country and an extremely proud moment for Oman Racing. Straight away we were congratulated by all our partners; it was great to see that they understood what this win meant.
"There are unbelievable minds in that pit lane,” he adds. “You've got so many geniuses! For whatever reason, Will was able to see the opportunity. I have to sit down with him one day and understand where he got that thought, at what time of night it came into his mind! For him to trust us – and us to trust him – that meant a lot."
Did you know...
As well as being the first-ever Endurance Cup win from outside the Pro category, this race equalled the record for the lowest starting position for a winner (29th). This was previously achieved by Phoenix Racing at the 2012 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
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