Tuesday 17 / March / 2026
BARCELONA (Spain): Omani champion Hamed Al Wahaibi achieved remarkable success in his first-ever GT circuit racing appearance during the final round of the GT Winter Series held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Al Wahaibi managed to reach the podium in every race he contested.
Al Wahaibi participated in the round behind the wheel of a GT2-spec KTM X-BOW, powered by a 2.5-liter Audi engine producing 600hp. He was partnered with British teammate Jon Lancaster, a veteran of single-seater racing. The duo competed in the GTX category, a class designated for drivers gaining experience in circuit racing.
Race 1 saw a stellar performance from Jon Lancaster, who utilized his extensive experience in single-seaters and the GP2 Series to secure a class victory. Remarkably, he achieved this after starting from the pit lane, highlighting the exceptional pace of the KTM machine.
In Race 2, Hamed Al Wahaibi made his official competitive debut behind the wheel in a circuit race. He successfully finished in second place, marking his first personal podium in this discipline.
Speaking after Race 2, Hamed Al Wahaibi said: "I have successfully completed my first race. I still need a lot of experience in this type of racing, as it presents many different challenges compared to what I am used to in rallies. My goal here was to familiarize myself with this style of racing, which I have come to admire in many ways."
The third and final event was the Endurance Race, which saw Al Wahaibi and Lancaster share driving duties. Despite the challenges on track and the deployment of the Safety Car, the duo managed to finish in third place, allowing Al Wahaibi to add a second podium to his tally in a single weekend.
Commenting on the overall result, Al Wahaibi said: "It was a good race overall, and I am very happy with the experience I gained during this round. My teammate Jon Lancaster was very fast as usual, and the result we achieved together is excellent considering this was my first participation."
For his part, Jon Lancaster praised Al Wahaibi’s performance, saying: "It was a fantastic round, and we secured a podium in the final race despite the Safety Car and the chaos on track. Hamed drove brilliantly with high focus and didn’t make a single mistake throughout his stint. I am fully confident that we should repeat this experience and compete in more races together in the future."
This participation marks a new milestone in Al Wahaibi’s storied sporting career, which spans from motorcycle racing in California to international success in rallies and the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas. Despite his impressive showing in Barcelona, Al Wahaibi confirmed that his primary focus remains on competing in the Challenger category of the 2026 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, while keeping all options open for future appearances in various racing disciplines.
