When our operation to inspire the next generation began earlier this year, we were on the verge of a new journey to improve representation on the world stage.
This adventure has been packed full of highs and some lows, yet the 2022 International GT Open will go down in history as a landmark season for inclusivity and accessibility in motorsport.
When we arrived in the paddock in Estoril, Portugal, we became the series’ newest team and after only one race, also became its newest Pro-Am race winners.
By taking home two victories from the first round, and with a further win and breakthrough pole position at Paul Ricard, confidence was naturally high but was dented by a bruising weekend at Spa.
We dug in deep, however, and with motivations high for the remainder of the season, kept fighting until the very end of our first campaign.
The season was marked by four class wins and six podiums in total, and with 57 points on the board, we battled to second in the Pro-Am Championship.
In the history of the International GT Open’s Pro-Am class, only two entries have scored more wins in a single season, with Theeba Motorsport placing third overall.
En route to this impressive achievement for a team taking its first steps, our #18 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO turned a total of 930 laps and covered a distance of more than 4,480 kilometres.
This is the equivalent of driving from April’s Estoril season-opener to October’s Barcelona finale nearly five times and is more than four times the distance between Jeddah and Dammam in west and east Saudi Arabia.
Performing a total of 81 overtakes during the season, we were consistently on the move, yet finished with an average class position of second, excluding retirements, while winning 57% of the races we finished and taking home a podium in 85%.
In 2023, we will continue to add to our current success and break new ground on our road to Le Mans where we intend to become the first Saudi team to contest the iconic event.
