Claudia Hurtgen back to retain her Dubai 24 hours crown

The German driver is hopeful of a second successive win in the 24 hours of Dubai race.

Claudia Hurtgen celebrates her win last year with a camel ride in the paddock.

Claudia Hurtgen is bidding to repeat last year's history-making win at the 24 hours of Dubai.

The German became the first female driver to win the endurance race last time out as part of the Need for Speed Schubert BMW Z4 GT3 team.

She is back this year to defend her title at Dubai Autodrome this weekend with the Saudi Falcons by Schubert Motorsport - who will race again in the potent BMW Z4 GT3.

The 40 year old will share driving duties with the top Saudi drivers Abdulaziz Al Faisal, Faisal Binladen and German racer Jorg Muller.

Last year Hurtgen was instrumental in her team's victory, driving the final stint to ensure the win. It was her maiden career victory in a 24-hour race after finishing second in Dubai on previous occasions.

She was ecstatic after her victory, saying: "I really have no words at the moment."

Her victory has also inspired other women drivers to take on the challenge of the Dunlop 24 Hours, the seventh time the race has run. An all female team - the Racing Divas - will line-up on the grid this weekend. Sharing driving duties will be Liesette Braams, Sheila Vershuur, Paulien Zwart, Sandar van der Sloot and Gaby Uljee.

Meanwhile, the Emirati driver Khalid Al Qubaisi heads Team Abu Dhabi, backed by Black Falcon. Joining him will be Porsche Supercup star Sean Edwards, and German Carrera Cup Champions and DTM Jeroen Bleekemolen and Thomas Jager.

This will be Al Qubaisi's second time at a 24-hour race. Last year's maiden drive at the Autodrome left his team in fourth place after a broken driveshaft robbed them from a chance at the podium.

"We are once again shooting for the win," said Al Qubaisi. "We have one of the best car and driver line-ups out there and all we need is to stay away from trouble and technical gremlins."

The team will be driving the Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 in the race.

Edwards said: "I look forward to driving the SLS for the first time in Dubai.

"We definitely have one of the strongest driver line-ups and teams there, so our sole aim is to win the race. Obviously 24 hours is long and anything can happen, but we just have to stay out of trouble, have some luck, and we will be fighting for the win."

A field of 74 cars will take to the track for practice today, followed by five hours of qualifying starting at 3pm. The race starts at 2pm tomorrow, finishing at the same time on Saturday.