Following a busy 2024, Kiwi GT star Brendon Leitch will make his first appearance of the New Year in this weekend’s 24 Hours of Dubai.
The race at the Dubai Autodrome on January 10-12, which also features New Zealander Earl Bamber, is the first long-form race of the year and marks the start of a blockbuster season for the Invercargill-born driver.
The 29-year-old will once again join German outfit Leipert Motorsport in a GTX class Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2, the same car that he won the 2023 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe title in.
Leitch and JJ Song will lead the team’s efforts as the ranked semi-pro drivers alongside amateur trio Gerhard Watzinger, Don Youn, and Takis. With just five cars in the GTX class, the team stands a good chance of a podium in a race traditionally known for its attrition.
There has been little time to rest for Leitch, who closed out his 2024 season just a month ago at the start of December with the first round of the Asian Le Mans Series. Despite this, he admits this weekend’s race can’t come soon enough.
“Any driver will tell you the most valuable thing you can get is seat time and getting back into the swing of things so early into the new year is the best way to begin the season. Even though it wasn’t that long ago I was in a car, I’m champing at the bit to get back behind the wheel,” said Leitch.
“This year will be my third Dubai 24 with Leipert Motorsport after 2022 and 2024. Last year we were so fast but didn’t even get to start the race, so I’m dead set keen to see this one out and help the team get a respectable result. We’ve got a good pool of drivers who I know want to see that chequered flag first and stand on the podium, so my goal is to get them there.”
After the 24 Hours of Dubai, Leitch will return to Australia to begin preparing with Wall Racing for the Bathurst 12 Hour on January 31-February 2 before returning to the United Arab Emirates for back-to-back Asian Le Mans Series rounds at the Dubai Autodrome and Yas Marina Circuit.
Leitch will return to Earl Bamber Motorsport in the team’s Aston Martin Vantage GT3 for the double-header on February 8-9 and 15-16.
“Last year was a whirlwind with such a big schedule and 2025 is looking similar,” said Leitch, whose full program will be announced in due course.
“In January and February I’ve already got plenty going on and there are some pretty cool things in the works for the rest of the year that I’m excited to share soon.”
Words & Images: Supplied
