Hillsborough’s Dan Harper says he is going all-out to make it a title double at the last round of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup in Saudi Arabia this weekend.
Harper can play a crucial role in helping the German-based ROWE Racing team wrap up the manufacturers’ trophy if the number 998 BMW M4 GT3 he is co-driving with Augusto Farfus and Max Hesse starts from pole on Saturday and triumphs in the 6-hour marathon.
The BMW M Motorsport-backed squad is in contention to upset the odds around the 3.8-mile Jeddah street circuit having returned a maximum score at Le Castellet in France in the first half of the season, and followed that up with strong points-scoring performances at the Spa 24 Hours in Belgium and the German round at the Nürburgring.
It leaves ROWE Racing fifth in the table with 47 points — 10 in arrears of AF-Corse Francorchamps Motors, while a single point covers second position and fourth place.
The GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup drivers’ title is a much bigger ask; Hesse, Harper and Farfus trail top spot by 18 points ahead of the light-into-darkness race and would need to win and hope other results elsewhere in the GT4 division go their way.
Being a street circuit, Jeddah — which is better known for its association with Formula One — has no run-off areas should a driver outbreak themselves or be tagged by a rival car.
“It is a long shot but mathematically we can still win the Endurance Cup drivers’ title — anything can happen, especially in Jeddah where mistakes are punished,” said Harper.
“ROWE Racing are also right in the fight for the Teams’ Championship, so we will be giving everything we have got to get a good result and hopefully deliver for the team and BMW.”
Harper — who already has a trophy to his name this season after clinching the GT World Challenge Europe Bronze Sprint trophy — added: “I am really excited for the weekend.
“This is my first time racing in Jeddah and my first time racing on a street circuit, so there is going to be lots to learn. I think the vast majority of drivers have not been at this circuit before either which makes things interesting. I’m looking forward to getting out on track.”
A 20-minute qualifying will take place on Saturday morning from 8.15am in order to determine how the grid will line up for a race that goes live from 2pm.
Weighing up their collective title chances, ROWE Racing’s Team Principal Hans-Peter Naundorf said: “Our team and drivers certainly have the ability to prevail in this thrilling six-way battle, even under the new and challenging conditions in Jeddah.”