Some of the world's fastest cars will be seen in action when the Dubai Autodrome hosts the penultimate round of the FIA GT Championship in November this year.
Corvettes, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Listers, Jaguars, Maseratis and Porsches will be among those competing in the FIA GT1 and FIA GT2 Championship from November 16-18.
It will be the second time that the Autodrome will be hosting such an internationally recognised race.
The FIA GT Championship is a three-hour endurance run that has all the drama of motor-racing including pit-stops, driver changes and strategy.
Now in its ninth season, the series includes eleven rounds, seven of which were run alongside the new FIA World Touring Car Championship.
After the successful overseas races in 2004, this season is headed for an exciting climax in the Middle East with Dubai hosting the penultimate race and the Bahrain International Circuit hosting the season finale.
Cars of 400 and 650 bhp are adapted for the circuit. They are divided into two categories, known now as GT1 (Corvette C5R, Ferrari 550 and 575 Maranello, Lister Storm, Saleen S7, LamborghiniMurcielago, Maserati MC 12) and GT2 (Porsche 996 GT3-RS, Ferrari 360 Modena).
They are expected to be joined during the season by the Aston Martin DB9R and the Nissan 350Z.
The drivers are an eclectic mix of stars from Formula One and Formula 3000, endurance and Sportscar specialists.
They also include young, upcoming drivers and talented gentlemen drivers. Two or three drivers share each car, up to four for the 24-hour race.
Last year, four different teams were victorious overall, with Saleen S7, Ferrari 575M and Maserati MC 12 represented on the top of the podium.
BMS Scuderia Italia, with its Ferrari 550 Maranello cars, was victorious for the second year in a row. Fabrizio Gollin and Luca Cappellari took the crown.
Matteo Bobbi and Gabriele Gardel secured first place in Dubai last year at the wheel of a Ferrari 550 Maranello.
The Dubai Autodrome is the region's first fully integrated motor and motorsports facility.
It is a state-of-the-art complex, featuring an FIA-sanctioned 5.35 km track, ultra-modern 7,000-seat grandstand, hospitality suites for corporate guests and parking for up to 10,000 cars.
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