Indian GT racer Akshay Gupta joins Dubai 24 Hours race; second Indian on grid after actor Ajith Kumar

Akshay Gupta is making waves in international motorsports by joining the Dubai 24 Hours race this year. As a tech entrepreneur and GT racer, he's breaking barriers and representing India on the global racing stage. His journey is particularly inspiring, having overcome physical challenges to become a successful driver. With a pole position start and a talented international team, Gupta is set to make his mark in this prestigious endurance race.

"I got a call from asBest on Monday to know if I was available and I jumped on the opportunity." - Akshay Gupta

by ANI January 13, 2025 92 views

New Delhi, January 13: Indian GT Racer and tech entrepreneur Akshay Gupta is set to become the second Indian driver to participate in the Dubai 24 Hours race.

Key Points

1. First full 24-hour race for Akshay Gupta

2. Racing with international team in TCR Class

3. Starting on pole position

4. Overcoming physical challenges in motorsports

Gupta follows the trail blazed by renowned Indian actor Ajith Kumar, who previously made headlines by returning to professional racing at the Dubai 24 Hours. The 2025 edition of the race will feature a total of 65 cars across 6 different classes. This event will mark the 20th staging of the 24H Dubai at the Dubai Autodrome.

Gupta will be racing with the German racing team asBest Racing, behind the wheel of a Seat Cupra Leon TCR car in the TCE Class, where competition is scarce. There are 3 total entries in the class, and Gupta's car will start on pole position. The 32-year-old will be joined by Japanese driver Junichi Umemoto, German Lutz Obermann, Swedish Henrik Sandell, and Nadir Zuhour from UAE in car #102. The race will continue non-stop for 24 hours, with drivers taking turns in a relay format.

Commenting on his participation, Akshay Gupta, a Pro Racer & Entrepreneur, said as quoted by a member of the racer's team, "I wanted to do this race back in 2016. I got a call from asBest on Monday to know if I was available, and I jumped on the opportunity. The TCR car is an upgrade from the production cars I race in the Nurburgring Endurance Championship. They have more power, weigh less, and have a lot more downforce. Additionally, I have not yet done a full 24-hour race, so there are a lot of firsts for me, and it will warm me up for the 2025 NLS championship scheduled for March end!"

Akshay Gupta is a pioneering Indian racing driver and tech entrepreneur who has overcome obstacles to achieve success in both fields. Born with clubfoot, Akshay has surmounted physical challenges to excel in motorsports. His racing career began in 2010, with notable milestones including being Vice Champion in the VT2-F Class in the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie in 2024 with the Hyundai i30N (2 race wins and 4 podiums), runner-up at the 2013 National Championship season finale at Buddh International Circuit for Toyota, and being selected by Nissan for their Asian GT Academy Finale in the UK, beating 10,000 Indian drivers.

Akshay's entrepreneurial spirit led him to found Scouto, a connected car technology startup acquired by Spinny in 2021. Returning to his racing roots, Akshay now competes in the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie, inspiring a new generation of Indian drivers. His determination, resilience, and passion for racing make him a shining star in Indian motorsports.

About 24H Series

The 24H Series is a sports car racing and touring car racing series developed by Creventic with approval from the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). It features GT3-spec cars, GT4-spec cars, sports cars, touring cars, and 24H-Specials like silhouette cars. The calendar consists solely of 24-hour and 12-hour races.