RAM Racing Go Retro For Gulf 12 Hours

RAM Racing will sport a tribute to a classic 1990s Mercedes livery for its Gulf 12 Hours debut next month.

The all-British crewed Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo will contest the Pro-Am class on 8/9 January 2021 with 2020 British GT Pro-Am champion Ian Loggie crewed with Sam De Haan, runner-up in the overall British GT standings in both 2019 and 2020, and pro driver Callum Macleod.

The car will feature an homage to the famous black and silver Sonax livery that adorned Klaus Ludwig’s 190E when he secured Mercedes’ first DTM title in 1992. That success was a landmark for the company, and helped cement the brand’s partnership with AMG, which would go on to become Mercedes’ official tuning arm in 1999.

Loggie and De Haan have both had a strong history of racing alongside Macleod, with Loggie and Macleod sharing a RAM Mercedes during a successful 2019 British GT campaign that included victory in the showpiece Silverstone 500 event.

Macleod has since been De Haan’s driver coach, and the pair took a Pro-Am podium finish on their International GT Open debut together at Austria’s Red Bull Ring back in September.

While Loggie has been a class winner in the race before in the GT4 division, it will be the first appearance for De Haan, Macleod and the RAM team at the Gulf 12 Hours, which will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit for the first time after switching from its traditional home of Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking about the challenge ahead, Ian Loggie said: “The Gulf 12 Hours is a great race, and I was lucky enough to be a GT4 winner in the 2018 event, but obviously this year will be a bit different with a new circuit and a GT3 Mercedes. But in my mind it’s full steam ahead for 2021. We have a top team, great drivers, so let’s go get on with the job!”

Sam De Haan added: “I’m massively excited to be back in a RAM Mercedes-AMG after a really strong British GT season this year. Ian and I get on well having been on either side of the garage this year, so it’s a really exciting prospect to get to share a car with him for once, and we both know that Callum has great pace. The top step is our only goal!”

Callum Macleod said: “I’m really excited about this one. It’s my first time in the Gulf 12Hrs but I know the circuit and love driving the RAM Mercedes-AMG. RAM is an exceptional outfit and both Sam and Ian are very talented drivers. They learn very quickly and deliver consistently so I think we have everything we need to go there with high hopes of a top result.”

RAM Racing team principal Dan Shufflebottom added: “I’m very pleased about the package we’ve put together for our Gulf 12Hrs debut. In Ian, Sam and Callum we have three great drivers who already know each other well and have bonded within the team during our British GT campaign.

“And the car will look superb. We wanted to do something special with the livery to bring a bit of Mercedes-AMG history alive. I’m really excited to get our new year started in Bahrain.”

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