The first Porsche, to be run under the ‘Team Captain America’ banner with appropriately matching livery, will be driven by American compatriots Grant Talkie, Curt Swearingin, Richard Edge, and Pedro Torres, regulars in Porsche Carrera Cup North America, GT4 America and GT World Challenge North America. Each will make their Hankook 24H DUBAI debut in January. 

The quartet will be joined in the #925 Porsche by Dutchman Kay Van Berlo, who is set to make his first start in the 24H SERIES since the 2018 Hankook 12H SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS.

The team’s second Porsche meanwhile, its returning ‘NKPP Racing’ entry, will be piloted by 24H SERIES mainstays Gijs Bessem, Harry Hilders, Bob Herber and Kari Pekka Laaksonen. Bessem, Hilders and Herber were all part of NKPP Racing’s class-winning line-up in Dubai in 2021 and 2022. The trio also secured Bas Koeten Racing’s most recent TCR podium at the event in 2019, with Bessem and Hiders also finishing 3rd in TCR in 2016. 

Laaksonen meanwhile, who also finished on the TCR podium with LMS Racing by Bas Koeten in Dubai in 2018, secured the Overall TCE Drivers’ ‘Continents’ title in 2018, and makes his return to the 24H SERIES for the first time since this year’s Hankook 6H ABU DHABI. 

“Without exception, endurance races have been on our calendar every year,” Jelle Koeten explains. “In the past years, we drove with great success in four popular categories in the 24H SERIES – TCR, 991, GT3 and GT4 – and the recent addition of two Porsche 992 GT3 Cup cars is an important next step is taken by our team.  

“This week, our cars will be transported to Dubai after being thoroughly prepared in our workshop. In January, we will compete with more than 20 identical Cup Porsches.

Bas Koeten Racing’s cars are two of 24 Porsche 992 Cups already registered for Dubai, one of the strongest ‘911’ exclusive entries for the event in recent memory. The line-up is also set to include 2022 992 Teams’ ‘Europe’ champion Red Ant Racing, reigning 992-Am Teams’ champion RPM Racing, event mainstays HRT Performance, MRS GT-Racing and FACH AUTO TECH, 2020 Overall GT Teams’ ‘Continents’ champion Sorg Rennsport, and recent 992 convert – and reigning Overall TCE Teams’ champion, Holmgaard Motorsport. 

“[A good] result depends on teamwork,” Koeten continues. “The ultimate interplay between crew and drivers in often challenging circumstances. We always want to excel in that, and this step forward is in-line with our growing sporting ambitions.”