MEDIA INFORMATION
INTERNATIONAL GT OPEN – Paul Ricard, July 17th-19th, 2026
For immediate release
Tuesday, July 14th, 2026
BEN TUCK RETURNS TO PARTNER AL-FAISAL AL-ZUBAIR IN THE AL-MANAR BY DRAGON RACING FERRARI AT PAUL RICARD
PAUL RICARD (FRANCE): Great Britain’s Ben Tuck returns to the hot seat to partner Oman’s Al-Faisal Al-Zubair in the Al-Manar by Dragon Racing Ferrari at this weekend’s round of the International GT Open in southern France.
Twenty-nine-year-old Tuck replaces Italy’s David Fuminelli in the Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO run by Dubai-based Dragon Racing. The Briton will be hoping that he and Al-Zubair can challenge for the podium in what promises to be two hotly-contested races at the world-famous Paul Ricard circuit, near Le Castellet in the Var department.
Al-Zubair has only recently returned to top flight professional racing after a short time on the sidelines and marked his return with sixth and seventh-placed finishes at last month’s round of the International GT Open at Misano with Fuminelli.
He and Tuck have shared many successful moments together in the past, most notably in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup with Team WRT and finishing second overall, despite late brake issues, at the 2025 Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi with Chris Froggatt in the Al-Manar by Dragon Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO.
Al-Zubair said: “Great to be back at Paul Ricard. This a very challenging circuit and it’s known for its history. I am looking forward to the weekend immensely. I’m eager to get back in the 296 GT3 Evo with my team-mate this weekend, Ben Tuck, and to be back behind the wheel.
“Ben and I have enjoyed a lot of success together, from Dubai 24 last year, to GT World Challenge, finishing second in the Endurance Cup, and then finishing second together on our first run in the Ferrari at the Gulf 12.
“Ben and I get on extremely well. He has proved himself to be a top contender and a top driver. With the package we are going to have, it’s going to be very strong for us to hopefully compete for top honours. The goal is definitely to be on the podium and to push for a race win.”
Thirty teams have entered the GT3 category across the Pro, ProAm and Amateur classes. Competition for the Al-Manar by Dragon Racing operation in the Pro section comes from Rinaldi Racing and the class-leading Elite Motorsport Ferrari, two Team Motopark Mercedes’, the Greystone GT McLaren, a pair of AF Corse Ferraris, the Scuderia Villorba Corse Lamborghini and the ZRS Motorsport Porsche.
International GT Open competitors will share the iconic 5.842km circuit with GT Cup Europe, E4 Championship, FIA Formula Regional and Euroformula Open entrants.
The first of the two one-hour free practice sessions for International GT Open runners roars into life from 10.31hrs on Friday (July 17th) morning, with session two getting underway at 15.39hrs.
The first of the 25-minute qualifying sessions for driver one takes centre stage from 11.35hrs on Saturday and this precedes the opening 70-minute race with a rolling start. This is scheduled to get the green light at 17.40hrs.
The second 25-minute qualifying session will take place in cooler track temperatures at the earlier time of 08.30hrs on Sunday. This will finalise the starting grid order for the second one-hour race, scheduled for 13.45hrs.
Ends