Schmid, Ashkanani and Algosaibi on the podium of Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge.
By Sports Reporter/Doha
Al Nabooda Racing’s Clemens Schmid made it back to back wins in Round 5 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East at the Dubai Autodrome as he took victory in Race 2 to build an even bigger lead over title rival Zaid Ashkanani in the Drivers’ Standings, while propelling his Al Nabooda Racing team closer to victory in the Team Standings ahead of Emirati duo Skydive Dubai Falcons.
The results set up a thrilling season finale race weekend at Bahrain International Circuit as the support races for the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix where the team and drivers championships will be decided in front of packed stands at the home of motor racing in the Middle East.
With huge expectations on the penultimate round of the series at the Dubai Autodrome the competition delivered another enthralling weekend of motor racing action featuring the region’s finest drivers. The previous results in Qatar had left it all to play for at the Motorcity track and after a thrilling first race where the lead changed at least four times and the points were spread evenly throughout the field, Race 2 was set to play the role as the most important of the battle of the season so far.
Securing first place in qualifying, series leader Clemens Schmid was once again the man to beat but would have to deal with defending champion Zaid Ashkanani from the moment the lights went out as the young Kuwaiti went from second. As expected the two top drivers in the series fired out the blocks with Schmid coming across to defend his lead as they approached the first turn. In the first lap it appeared that Ashkanani had passed his rival but the UAE resident took back the lead in the infamous “bowl” corner. Holding off sustained pressure throughout the race, Schmid secured the win and maximum points bolstering his Season 6 title ambitions as he extends his lead at the top of the table to twelve points ahead of Ashkanani with just two races remaining.
Speaking after his victory in Race 2 of Round 5 at the Dubai Autodrome Clemens Schmid said, “I’m really happy for myself and the team. We won the team title for this round too so it was a brilliant day for us. The first lap was really close between the top six drivers but from then I had a really controlled race. I didn’t need to take too many risks and I’m delighted to have taken the top spot. This has been one of the best rounds of the series. The nature of the last round in Bahrain is such that it will determine just how good we as the drivers need to be with the added pressure of being surrounded by the F1 and that’s a challenge I can’t wait to face.”
The victory from Schmid and another solid performance from his Al Nabooda Racing teammate Ahmad al-Harthy saw the Dubai outfit take the most points in the team competition growing the gap between first and second in the standings. Local rivals Skydive Dubai Falcons now sit ten points behind Al Nabooda in what has been one of the most tightly contended team championships in the history of the series. With a fourth place finish Sheikh Hasher al-Maktoum maintained the pressure on last year’s champions while his fellow Emirati Saeed al-Mehairi was unlucky to be penalised two positions after overtaking off the track and not returning the position; he finished sixth. The result means an exciting finish to the team challenge in April’s sixth and final round.
Speaking after Race 2 of Round 5 Skydive Dubai Falcons’ Saeed al-Mehairi said, “Today was a really great performance from the car because I just kept getting faster by the lap. If the race was longer I may have been able to get even further up the results but overall given the fact that I started in seventh I’m pleased with the race. With the final round now in Bahrain hopefully we can make it count and lift the team championship which is something that is huge possibility so it’s really exciting. There is a long gap between these rounds which will allow us to focus hard and come up with what we hope is a winning strategy.”
Less windy conditions compared with the previous day meant the drivers were able to focus on their pace during Race 2, compared to the day before when fighting the dusty track to stay on-line was hard enough.
As soon as the lights went out Schmid and Ashkanani went toe to toe down to the first corner but solid defensive moves from the series leader allowed him to hold off the assault. Further back Saeed al-Mehairi of the Skydive Dubai Falcons jumped one position and was pushing Classic Arabia’s Bandar Alesayi for fourth after a great start from the Saudi.
The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East returns for final Round 6 at the Bahrain Circuit in April as the support race for the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix.
