razoon – more than racing team principal Dominik Olbert has stated that the Austrian outfit’s entry in the full 24H SERIES Middle East Trophy campaign for a second year in a row was “definitely the right decision,” despite a technical issue preventing the Austrian outfit from successfully defending its 2022/2023 win. 

razoon – more than racing took GTX class victory at both the Hankook 24H DUBAI and Hankook 6H ABU DHABI in 2023, and was a strong favourite to win the GTX Teams’ 24H SERIES Middle East Trophy once again in 2023/2024 with its proven KTM X-BOW GTX. Three tough events however, which started with a rear wheel sensor and brake issues at December’s Hankook 12H KUWAIT, meant razoon slipped to 3rd in the standings behind new GTX title winner Toro Verde GT and old category rival Vortex V8. 

While not the successful defence he had hoped for, Olbert was quick to praise razoon’s engineers and mechanics for their efforts, as well as the innate speed of the KTM itself.

“Entering the Middle East Trophy again was definitely the right decision,” explained Olbert, who walked away from a heavy free practice accident in Kuwait, and opted to withdraw from the UAE season closers. “The KTM X-BOW GTX is capable of victories in endurance races – we know that and we are impressed by the car’s potential.

“It’s always a tough ask for everyone involved to enter three endurance races in such short succession. But the team gave it everything and didn’t let the setbacks get them down. I would like to thank each and every one of them for working so hard. We put in a few night shifts over the past few days to get everything ready.”

After a difficult race in Abu Dhabi, at which the KTM eventually finished 4th in-class after a wheel bearing issue led to the X-BOW losing its right rear wheel on-track, razoon sat comfortably in the GTX top two for most of the Hankook 24H DUBAI. The KTM comfortably held the lead for much of the opening stages before intermittently swapping the top spot with the Toro Verde GT Ginetta during the night. 

Technical difficulties started creeping in as morning rose however, and significant time was lost to an unspecified “technical issue,” one that potentially helped pit the KTM into a spin at turn 13 with just four hours left on the clock. Sadly, having inadvertently swiped CWS Engineering’s #277 Ginetta G55 in the process, the KTM was eventually retired altogether.

Despite a disappointing end to their Middle East campaign, team regular Daniel Drexel, Kuwait’s Haytham Qarajouli, and Artur Chwist – who teamed with Mikaeel Pitamber and Kevin Woods in Dubai – nevertheless placed 3rd in the GTX Drivers’ standings, just eight points behind Vortex V8’s Lionel Amrouche, Philippe Bonnel, and Arnaud and Olivier Gomez. 

Though not yet confirmed, razoon – more than racing has expressed an interest in contesting the full 24H SERIES powered by Hankook European calendar in 2024, which kicks off with the Hankook 12H MUGELLO on 22-23-24 March.