Emely De Heus made a very promising GT racing debut at the 2025 24 Hours of Dubai with WS Racing, showcasing strong pace and before a fire ended the team’s promising run while leading the GT4 class.
Emely De Heus made her GT racing debut at the 24 Hours of Dubai, piloting the WS Racing BMW M4 GT4 in her first major sports car event since graduating from the F1 Academy.
The Dutchwoman completed two seasons in the all-female series, where she collected a pole position, a race win, and two podiums during her rookie year, before she achieved seven points-scoring finishes in 2024, with a best result of fourth place, as part of the MP Motorsport lineup.
De Heus made her race car debut in 2021 in Spanish F4 and was later selected for the 2022 W Series season. She has also contested select races in the F4 UAE Championship and a partial campaign in Eurocup-3.
The 21-year-old driver had previously shared a TCR car with her father, Bert De Heus—a veteran of the 24H Series and endurance racing. However, the 2025 Michelin 24 Hours of Dubai marked her first GT race, thanks to a last-minute opportunity with German team Giti Tire Motorsport by WS Racing.
The team, which also operates the "Girls Only" program in the NLS aboard the BMW M4 GT4, joined the Creventic field for the Creventic endurance classic that traditionally kicks off the racing season. De Heus joined a lineup featuring experienced compatriot Jeroen Bleekemolen, as well as Keith Gatehouse, George King, and Bernd Küpper.
The team showed impressive speed from the start of the weekend. In testing and official practice, the #470 BMW was third fastest in the first session and second in official practice, recording a 2:10.548 lap time, just 0.046 seconds behind the pace-setting #495 Team CMR Ginetta.
In qualifying, Gatehouse recorded a 2:12.470 lap in Q1, King improved to 2:10.221 in Q2, and Bleekemolen clocked a 2:10.053 in Q3. The combined times placed the #470 BMW second in class, showcasing the team’s potential for a podium finish and a realistic shot at a class victory.
On Saturday morning, the 2025 racing season officially began with a 64-car grid for the 20th running of the Creventic race. Bleekemolen took the start of the race and immediately claimed the GT4 class lead over the AGMC BMW, building a small gap during the opening laps.
Bleekemolen displayed remarkable consistency, gradually extending the lead to almost five seconds as the first hour approached. On lap 30, he pitted from the lead in GT4, and Keith Gatehouse took over. However, a slower pit stop dropped the #470 BMW to fifth. Gatehouse quickly regained positions, moving into third shortly after.
The race saw its first Code 60 caution when Kiwamu Katayama’s #990 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup crashed into the wall on the main straight. Many GT4 cars pitted under caution, reshuffling the order, and the WS Racing BMW settled back into fourth.
After the caution period, green flag racing resumed but was short-lived as another major crash at Turn 2 involving Frederic Jousset’s Motopark Mercedes brought out a second Code 60. With 21 hours and 42 minutes remaining, Emely De Heus officially made her GT racing debut, taking over the BMW M4 GT4 while running third in class.
Initially dropping to fifth, behind the #495 Ginetta, De Heus quickly regained fourth after the Ginetta pitted under caution. Settling into a strong rhythm, she adapted well to the car despite limited track time before her stint.
However, De Heus showed significant improvement during her run, taking the lead during the next pit cycle. When she pitted from the lead, she handed over to George King, having completed a solid and confidence-boosting debut stint.
King continued the strong performance, overtaking the AGMC BMW to reclaim second place 30 minutes into his stint. As the sun set over the Emirates, the race entered its fifth hour, and Bleekemolen returned to the car.
By lap 122, Bleekemolen capitalized on a suspension issue for the RSR Team Sorg Rennsport BMW, moving the #470 BMW into second place. A subsequent Code 60 was triggered when Dominik Olbert’s Razoon Porsche hit the barriers.
Bleekemolen maintained second position, reducing the gap to the GT4 class leader, the Team CMR Ginetta, to about 30 seconds. After pitting on lap 154, De Heus returned to the car for her second stint.
Once again, De Heus performed strongly, cycling back into the lead. However, with 16 hours remaining, disaster struck when a fire erupted in the engine of the #470 BMW M4 GT4. De Heus quickly exited the car unscathed, but the fire caused significant damage, forcing the team to retire from the race while in the class lead.
Reflecting on the experience, De Heus stated: "It was fun while it lasted, the pace was strong from the entire team. We were fighting for P1 in our class until the car caught fire. Luckily, I was able to get out safely."
"I want to thank WS Racing for the last-minute call and the opportunity to participate in this race. For me, it was my first GT race, and I can say that I enjoyed every moment behind the wheel."
Despite the unfortunate outcome, Emely De Heus had an impressive GT debut, battling for the class victory and showing significant progress over the Dubai 24H weekend. Her performance clearly highlighted potential for a promising future in GT racing.
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