Winward Racing delivered a commanding performance in Qualifying for the Michelin 6H Abu Dhabi, securing a sensational front row lock-out at Yas Marina Circuit. As a result, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO squad made an emphatic statement in round two of the Michelin 24H Series Middle East Trophy.
Dominant Qualifying display by Winward Racing seals pole position for 2026 6H Abu Dhabi
Rinat Salikhov, Gabriele Piana and Marvin Dienst combined seamlessly in the No.81 Mercedes-AMG to claim pole position. The trio produced a superb three-session average time of 1m50.476 seconds, repeating the team’s Abu Dhabi success from last season.
Close behind, the sister No.16 entry of Maro Engel, Daan Arrow and Sergey Stolyarov secured second place, missing out on pole by just over a tenth of a second. Meanwhile, TFT Racing completed an all Mercedes-AMG top three, with Jordan Boisson, Marvin Klein and Benjamin Paque also claiming GT3 PRO-AM pole.
“It’s been good fun, the team gave us a great car, it was a pleasure to drive, and I’m happy we are one-two”, said Winward Racing’s Marvin Dienst. “It’s going to be difficult [tomorrow] of course, it’s a long race as always, but the Mercedes-AMG is strong with tyre management with a long run so let’s bring it home and hope for a good one!”
While Winward dominated the front row, competition remained fierce behind. Herberth Motorsport’s Porsche 911 GT3 R (992), driven by Antares Au, Huub van Eijndhoven and Loek Hartog, secured fourth.
Team WRT followed in fifth with its BMW M4 GT3 EVO, while Leipert Motorsport ensured Lamborghini representation inside the top six. Additionally, Optimum Motorsport claimed GT3 AM pole with its McLaren 720S GT3 EVO.
Thrilling GT3 Qualifying sessions
Qualifying in GT3 proved intense from the outset, with 30 cars battling for track position. Initially, Team WRT set the pace before TFT Racing briefly took control.
However, the momentum shifted repeatedly. Leipert Motorsport surged ahead late in Q1, only for Winward Racing to reassert dominance in Q2, with Piana breaking the 1m50 barrier.
In the decisive Q3 session, a red flag briefly halted proceedings. Nevertheless, Dienst wasted no time upon the restart, delivering a stunning 1m49.651 seconds lap to secure pole. Engel followed closely, finishing just 0.014 seconds adrift.
Red Camel edges tight 992 Qualifying battle in 2026 6H Abu Dhabi
In the 992 class, Red Camel-Jordans.nl claimed pole position after a closely fought contest. Fabian Danz and brothers Luc and Rik Breukers edged EBM by just 0.071 seconds.
Alessandro Ghiretti starred for EBM, consistently pushing the leaders and keeping the pressure on throughout all sessions. Meanwhile, ARMotors by HRT Performance secured 992 AM class pole with Steven Gambrell, Ryan Naicker and Igor Sorokin.
Class leaders shine across the field in Qualifying at 2026 6H Abu Dhabi
Elsewhere, strong performances emerged across the remaining categories. Team CMR dominated GTX qualifying with its Ginetta G56 GT2, driven by Mike Simpson and Jack Mitchell.
Cerny Motorsport continued its impressive form by taking GT4 pole, with Florian Sternkopf, Ivan Krapivtsev and Joshua Bednarski leading the way in the BMW M4 GT4 (G82).
In TCE-TCX, asBest Racing secured a comfortable class pole thanks to Usmaan Mughal, Dylan Pragji and Marco Grilli in their Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS (982).
Historic grid set for race day
Creventic also marked a milestone weekend at Yas Marina Circuit. The event features the largest-ever entry for an international championship at the venue, with 60 cars set to take the start. Consequently, anticipation continues to build ahead of the six-hour race.
The Michelin 6H Abu Dhabi will begin at 15:00 local time on Saturday, 10 January. With Winward Racing leading the charge and fierce competition across every class, the stage is set for a thrilling endurance contest under the Yas Marina floodlights.
