The BMW M4 GT3 is undefeated so far this year at the Dubai Autodrome circuit in the United Arab Emirates. BMW M Team WRT won the 24 Hour Dubai race last month with the M4 GT3, and Walkenhorst Motorsport won the GT class in both of the Asian Le Mans Series four-hour races at Dubai this past weekend. Driven by American Chandler Hull as well as former BMW M works driver Nicky Catsburg along with Thomas Merrill, the Walkenhorst M4 GT3 was up against some stiff competition in the 24-car GT class, with works supported entries from Mercedes-AMG and Ferrari, among others.
The Asian Le Mans Series has just four races, with a pair of four-hour races at Dubai and another pair of four-hour races at Abu Dhabi next weekend. After starting from pole thanks to a strong qualifying performance from Thomas Merrill, the Walkenhorst M4 GT3 led for most of race one at Dubai despite Catsburg pitting for fuel with only eight minutes left in the race. That pit stop put him behind a Mercedes-AMG when he rejoined the race, but Catsburg got by when the Mercedes-AMG also had to make a last-minute stop for fuel.
The M4 GT3 was given a BoP adjustment before race two on Sunday, with 20 kg more weight and a reduction in turbo boost, but the Mercedes-AMG and the Porsche entries were also given weight increases of 30 kg, and the Mercedes-AMG also had to use a smaller air restrictor. The Walkenhorst BMW had another strong race to win again, giving them maximum points going into the final two rounds next weekend. “We have to credit the team for a brilliant strategy,” said Merrill after the race. “Our M4 was great. The series pulled a little bit away from us there but we still managed to get a good race car and we’re looking forward to next weekend.”
The final two rounds of the Asian Le Mans Series takes place next weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. You can watch the races on the Asian Le Mans Series YouTube channel.
—David Haueter
[Photos by Asian Le Mans Series]
