Mowlem, RAM mates lead early at Dubai and slowed by crash

DUBAI – Johnny Mowlem and his RAM Racing teammates observed the anniversary of their first race together when the team competed in the Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai this weekend.

There was plenty to cheer about for the British team, but the result was not what the organization wanted.

#30 Ram Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT3: Johnny Mowlem, Matt Griffin, Jan Magnussen, Cheerag Arya

Photo by: Dubai Autodrome

“This is a championship team and we were very fast in the opening hours,” Mowlem said. “We expect to be among the leaders and we were leading just after halfway.”

The team’s Ferrari 458 GT3 Italia led just after the halfway point, only to suffer damage to the car, the result of a collision stemming from an incident between two others.

“Unfortunately, my contact with the Lamborghini, while trying to lap him, caused us some adversity,” Mowlem said. “The team rose to meet it brilliantly. I’m disappointed, but at the same time I’m very proud of this team and how hard we all worked together all weekend long.”

The crash led to nearly an hour’s worth of work in the garage before the car returned to the race. Another stint in the garage later in the event cost the team more than half an hour.

Still, the team finished 17th overall in the 77-Car field and 11th in the A6 Pro class.

Mowlem shared the car with Matt Griffin, Jan Magnussen and Cheerag Arya. Griffin was Mowlem’s teammate in the European Le Mans Series LMGTE championship run last season.

Johnny Mowlem