Benjamin Mazatis versus Valentino Rossi at the 24h Dubai

Benjamin Mazatis versus Valentino Rossi at the 24h Dubai

Benjamin Mazatis 24H Dubai 2023
Benjamin Mazatis will start for the third time at the legendary 24h of Dubai race. He will fight with an Audi R8 LMS GT3 for the overall victory of the prestigious endurance race.

Benjamin Mazatis starts 2023 with a bang, an absolute highlight. The 24-year-old German will start for the Haas Racing Team at the 24 hours of Dubai from 13th to 15th January. It will be the third participation of Mazatis at the Persian Gulf, after 2017 (2nd place in SP2 class) and 2019 (DNF, Engine Failure when leading the class). For the first time Mazatis will drive in a GT3 car, a 585 PS strong Audi R8 LMS GT3. With this car, he will fight for the overall victory at this legendary endurance race.

In Dubai he will share the car with Audi factory driver Frédéric Vervisch, many years Bentley factory driver Maxime Soulet, as well as Mathieu Detry und Olivier Bertels. It is a strong driver line up which is necessary in view of the strong competition. A lot of factory drivers, former Dubai 24h winners as well as the 9-time motorcycle World Champion and Motorsport legend Valentino Rossi will drive in the other cars of the strong grid.

The whole race weekend, starting with the free practise sessions, the Qualifying and of course the main race from Saturday noon CET to Sunday noon CET, will be live broadcasted on You Tube.

“It will be without a doubt a huge challenge, but I love challenges and I am really looking forward to return to Dubai and drive this legendary race again. I already collected so many great memories on this racetrack and hope to add another great chapter. It has always been my dream to race there in a GT3 car, which opens the door to fight for the overall victory at this prestigious event. We have a very strong driver line up and go there with a lot of positive vibes, but we all know it is elite sports and there you not only have to deliver your absolute best when it matters, you also need the necessary luck. Especially at an endurance race. We will control our controllables and work out to be in best shape. I have started my personal preparation for this event mid-October. Since then, I worked hard, daily simulator sessions as well as several hours in the gym. Now I feel being in the shape of my life and let us simply see what the new year has in store for us.“

Three Questions to Benjamin Mazatis

In Dubai you will not only compete for the overall victory against GT3 veterans, but also against Valentino Rossi, a true Motorsport legend. What are your feeling knowing that you will race against this guy?

First of all, it is always nice and something special to return to Dubai. Every year big motorsport names are participating in this event and fighting for the prestigious overall victory. In general, it is of course a huge honour and privilege to race against such a legend like Valentino Rossi. I am also sure that it will help to delight a new audience to follow this amazing event and our sport in general. But personally, I will keep my focus on myself and the things I have in control. That’s an attitude I have in common with the whole team and we want to deliver our absolute best. That is the only thing what matters. We have the quality to win, and we want to get that on the racetrack. Apart from that we are luckily racing with four instead of two wheels 😉.

Finally engines howl again and it starts again for you. What have you done in the meantime?

For sure the last two years weren’t that easy for me, as they weren’t for probably a lot of guys out there, due to the pandemic and everything else happening in the world. Still I think I used the time quite well and have set the course for 2023. I have done my Master study, just missing the thesis on which I am working on but put it now a bit in the background in view of the race. Apart from that I extended and improved my personal team especially in the marketing sector. Along with all those things I kept working hard day by day, because I always knew that this day will come when it all starts again. It also helped to get some distance, to look at things outside of your bubble and to work on some technical nuances with all the time in the world and not having the rush of the next race coming up soon. Which is impossible during a race season. So, I feel being better than before and my times in the simulator approve that. Now I simply look forward to go racing again.

It will be your first GT3 race ever. How have your prepared for this upcoming challenge?

As already mentioned, my preparation started mid-October. I have driven more than 10.000 laps in the simulator around Dubai Autodrome. Physically the main focus is of course on the shoulder and neck musculature, but also endurance and concentrations play an important part, especially in an endurance race. We have done some coordination drills directly after exercises where the heart rate did go up. Then you need to be calm and stable on a balance board or a ball even so your heart rate is quite high. Apart from that I played a lot of chess. Here concentration must be high as well over a long period of time. Once small mistake can cost it all. I believe that all was an exceptionally good preparation for this upcoming challenge and now I feel that fit and ready for Dubai. Let’s go!

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