Drivers
Jonathan
AKA: JM
Heading up ZRT JM started life racing an Alfa 75 (badly) advanced to AutoX in a Lancia Integrale (couldn’t handbrake!) graduated to UAE Touring car series. 2012 Dubai mini Enduro race winner /2013 Dubai 24H D1 winner, 12-podiums out of 16-races in 2013-14. 2015 Dubai & Barcelona 24hrs competitor and 2016 Dubai 24Hrs highlights his commitment to racing.
Umair
AKA: King Khan
Umair is the three time class 2 UAE touring car champion, competed in multiple Dubai 24hr class A2 races (2012 runner up and 2013 winner) and has raced with ZRT Motorsport since 2015. Umairs racing and preparation knowledge is a great asset to the team.
Graham
AKA: The flying Scotsman
Graham races a highly modified Noble M400 in the British GT Cup in the UK. For a bit of winter sun, Graham raced with ZRT Motorsport in the Dubai 2015/2016 24hr events.
Chris
AKA: Mike
Chris has held a racing licence for over 20 years and has successfully raced Formula Ford (single seaters) and Sports S2000 (open topped, full body worked custom race cars) both in the UK and Europe. Any reference to our touring car being like a shopping car will be met with a diet consisting of only mushrooms.
Peter
Peter has plenty of racing experience and currently races in the UAE Touring Car Championship in an ex BTCC Astra (he raced a Clio before that). His front wheel drive and local track knowledge will mean Peter is able to focus on driving fast.
Tim
Tim has experience in endurance racing…on motorbikes. A fairly recent convert car racing (to the dark side according to Ian) in Qatar where Tim raced a Honda DC5. The phrase "go large or go home" summed up perfectly Tims baptism of fire at the 2016 D24hr as 100 cars were entered.
Gerard
AKA: Maverick
A full time Ute V8 racer in Australia. Gerard also has experience in racing production cars in endurance events. His set-up experience was a great asset to the team at the 2015 event.
Management
Theo Souris
AKA: Souro
An FIA accredited Chief Scrutineer, Paul Stoddart wannabe and the man with the shades around the track. Reliable and dedicated Team Principal who knows everything Aussi. He secretly wishes we had a V8 under the hood.
Ian
AKA: Mushroom
2 or 4 wheels, tarmac or sand, if it involves testing or racing Ian can normally be found there. A true petrolhead who organises the teams event entry, structure, task allocation, monitors lap times, strategies and in the words of Richard Bailey “anything that keeps him on the pit wall and out of the garage”. Oh and expect to hear Ian’s dulcet tones on Radio LeMans during all D24 events.
Richard Timmins
Richard assists Ian with lap timing and pit-stop coordination at the event. During D24 he discovered it gets very cold on the pit wall at 3.00am and the pit perch seats are very uncomfortable. Quite clearly Richard is a sucker for punishment and thus fits in perfectly with rest of the team.
Technical
Jeff
AKA: Kiwi
In the twenty years he has been in the USA, Jeff Owen has become somewhat of an icon in the Honda Touring Car Racing scene. Known as “Kiwi” in the racing industry, he has made quite a reputation for himself as a driver, a team owner, and an innovative fabricator since he first came to the USA in 1994 to work as Director of Marketing for Honda Tuning legend, Oscar Jackson. (Jackson Racing).
Mechanics
Heiki
AKA: The king of Ginger Ale
With no mechanical training, a short lifetime of building and rebuilding Audi 5-cyclinder Turbos in Estonia. A unique knowledge of everything automotive and with a "nothing to worry about" approach and smile, Heiki brings the technical voice of reason to the team.
Jason
AKA: Google
Extremely adept at wiring race and rally cars from scratch and a dab hand at rubber management. Phil claims Jason is often MIA but once set up at the track with coffee and grub provided we can always rely on him (well once you have dragged him away from BMW’s!).
Phil
AKA:The Prince
Phil has an itch for a Porsche which hasn’t been helped by a daily drive that was a 6” lifted 2 door Jeep and is now a Lotus Elsie. He is also rebuilding a Clubman (Based on a Lotus 7) and 50% of a race spec Clio Cup (with Jason). Fabrication is Phil’s area of expertise and the cars spectacular LED headlights are testament to Phil’s skills.
Sander
AKA: The Fast Estonian
If it involves electric or data then Sander is your man. Daily recitals of permissible pressure and temperature parameters means Sander can identify a problem byte from a problem bit. Sander runs on ginger ale and dielectric grease, a strange combination but if it works the team doesn’t complain.
Adnan
AKA: The Selfie King
Adnan has many years experience at the Dubai 24hr race and will be in-charge of driver and pit stop coordination. A Honda “fanboi” means he has local contacts and is invaluable to the team.
Media
HUW
AKA: The Socialite
Huw has established himself as a neat karting driver and takes some beating at Al Ain and Al Forsan tracks. Huw will be heading up ZRT’s social media campaign and making sure everyone is duly informed of race preparations before and throughout and after the 24H event.