British squad 7TSIX has confirmed the driver line-up for its 24H SERIES powered by Hankook debut at the upcoming Hankook 24H DUBAI.

Launched in 2022 ahead of its maiden campaign in the British GT Championship, 7TSIX will make its maiden 24-hour race appearance at the Dubai Autodrome on 13-14-15 January, doing so with both the sole McLaren 720S GT3 registered for the event and only the second example of the Woking brand’s flagship racer to compete at a 24H SERIES event. Inception Racing by Optimum Motorsport previously contested both the 2021 Hankook 24H DUBAI and the 2021 Hankook 6H ABU DHABI with its own 720S GT3.

Part of 7TSIX’s four-driver line-up, and after three years racing in the Ferrari Challenge, Matúš Výboh is set to make his first 24H SERIES appearance since 2021 in Dubai. On his previous outings, the Slovakian racer teamed with his father Miroslav and 2019 24H SERIES Overall GT Drivers’ champion Josef Král in a MiddleCap racing with Scuderia Praha-entered Ferrari 488 GT3, taking three consecutive runner-up spots at Mugello, Paul Ricard and Hockenheim. 

Výboh will be joined in the #76 McLaren (7-T Six… get it?!) by Fran Rueda, Andrew Gilbert, and James Cottingham, two of whom will also be making their 24H SERIES debuts in Dubai. A former McLaren works driver, Rueda has been an Intercontinental GT Open frontrunner since 2017, while his 2022 GT Open Pro-Am teammate Gilbert has previous experience in the Ferrari Challenge both in Europe and Asia. 

Cottingham meanwhile is set to make his first Hankook 24H DUBAI appearance since 2015, at which the Briton finished 3rd in CUP1 with Race-House Motorsport. The prominent historics racer has also contested the British GT Championship over the past two years.

“It is great to be starting the season so early in the New Year, and getting things underway,” explains 7TSIX team owner Joe Edge. “We had a strong foundation year, but we have continued to grow as a team, pushing ourselves with new challenges, and I am really pleased to be confirming our first 24-hour race. 

“The [Hankook] 24H DUBAI event is a real challenge for drivers, cars, and the team, so it will be a baptism of fire for the new year. But I am confident in the team we have and the exciting driver line-up we have put together. Fran knows the car well, and he and Andrew combined well earlier this season to score some impressive results in Europe. James showed himself to be one of the quickest Ams on the British GT grid last season, while Matúš has shown some real ability during his debut GT3 season against a strong field.”

Alongside its Hankook 24H DUBAI entry, 7TSIX has also expressed an interest in a full European campaign in the 24H SERIES in 2023.

“We are currently evaluating the various options and future opportunities for the team, and have seen significant interest in several events from drivers, including the [Hankook] 6H ABU DHABI,” Edge continues. “With the team and the car out in the Middle East for the start of the year, there is a lot of opportunity to gain experience and run in some great events at some fantastic venues.”