The Heart of Racing finishes fourth in 24H of Dubai

DUBAI (January 13, 2025) - The Heart of Racing Team started the 2025 race season with a fourth place finish at the 24H SERIES’ 24H of Dubai this weekend. Ian James, Gray Newell, Zacharie Robichon, and Hannah Grisham joined forces behind the wheel of the No. 27 Mercedes AMG GT3. 

After three days of testing, qualifying was staged on Friday, with three 15-minute sessions as James, Newell, and Robichon took to the track to set an average time of 2:00.116-seconds to qualify fifth in class. 

Starting from the eighth row in the multi-class field, James was first in the No. 27 machine for Saturday’s enduro. All four drivers rotated through the driver's seat, staying in the top six in the GT3 AM category. After losing track position with over 90 seconds of penalty time, the team worked to make up lost ground but those efforts were stifled by over five hours of Code60 time (where all the cars circulate at 60 KPH to allow safety crews to address on-track issues) but the Heart of Racing Team rebounded to finish fourth, just 25-seconds behind the podium. 

“This was my first GT3 race, and nonetheless, it was at the 24H of Dubai, so it was amazing,” said Grisham. “It was definitely a bit hectic out there. I tried to get in my rhythm, but I made a bit of a mistake and sped in the fueling station. I am so sorry to my team for that. Overall I had a lot of fun!” 

The Heart of Racing Team will now head to Daytona International Speedway for the Roar Before the 24 and the Rolex 24 At Daytona, January 17-26.