Ahmad al Harthy and his teammates Calan Williams and Javier Sagrera delivered a strong performance at the second round of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup held at Monza, Italy, on May 31. Representing Oman Racing by Century Motorsport, the trio secured a podium finish, marking the team’s first top-three result of the 2026 season.

The No.42 BMW M4 GT3 EVO started the race from 47th on the overall grid and eighth in the Bronze Cup category. Supported by OQ, Omantel, Oman LNG, the Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and BMW Oman, the team capitalized on strategic calls and disciplined driving to navigate a chaotic three-hour event at the iconic Italian circuit.

Qualifying on Sunday morning under clear skies and warm conditions, the BMW secured eighth in the Bronze Cup after the combined average best laps of Al Harthy, Sagrera, and Williams. The race began at 16:00 local time with Williams taking the start. Despite air temperatures nearing 32 degrees Celsius, the initial laps were marked by a significant early collision at the first chicane involving multiple front-runners, which triggered a Safety Car period.

Williams skillfully maneuvered through the congestion, maintaining eighth in class while gaining 10 positions overall to reach 37th. The team made an early pit stop during the Safety Car phase, restarting the race 17th overall and eighth in Bronze. Williams steadily improved, climbing to fourth in class by the first hour amid more interruptions, including a Full Course Yellow triggered by an off-track incident at Ascari.

Upon handing over to Al Harthy at the one-hour mark, the Omani driver maintained a competitive position while engaging in close battles with rivals, including Porsche and Mercedes entries. Multiple caution periods interrupted the race flow, but Al Harthy managed to ascend to second in the Bronze Cup and into the overall top 10 before pitting with just under an hour left. Sagrera then took over for the final stint.

With half an hour remaining, Sagrera advanced to the top five in class despite further late-race incidents, including another Safety Car triggered by a stranded Mercedes emitting smoke and a collision at the chicane. The race concluded under caution, with Oman Racing by Century Motorsport crossing the line third in Bronze Cup and 13th overall after recovering 34 positions during the event.

Al Harthy reflected on the result, emphasizing the team’s cohesion and strategy as crucial factors in overcoming a less-than-favorable starting position and challenging race conditions. Looking ahead, the team prepares for the GT World Challenge Europe’s marquee event, the Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa, with testing and practice commencing on June 23 and the race set to start on June 27.