Qatar’s Team Frijns finish on podium

Father and son duo Rob and Charlie Frijns finished off Season 7 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East with strong performances in Round 6, held at Bahrain International Circuit.
The Qatar-based team will now look back on a hugely successful campaign in which they finish third in the team category, Rob took second in the bronze category and Charlie finished an impressive fifth overall.
With a flying start to Race 2, Charlie battled to get to the front of the pack as early as possible, quickly reaching fourth behind championship leader Jeffery Schmidt. After an ongoing battle, Frijns seized an opportunity and passed the UAE driver into third with his sights set on the leading pair.
Frijns continued to try and close the gap on Abdulaziz al-Faisal and Ryan Cullen but with tyres wearing thin, the Qatari resident crossed the line in third for the second time in as many days.
Speaking after Race 3 of Round 6 Charlie Frijns said, “The race actually went really well for me, we had some problems in qualifying with the power steering on the car so couldn’t manage to get a strong position on the grid, however, we knew we had to go for it today and really push for maximum points in the final race of the season. I had a strong start on the new tires, and sat behind Jeffery trying to push to overtake. I managed to get past him but by this time I didn’t have the speed in the tyres to catch the front two and finished the race in third.
“I am happy with the two podium finishes this weekend, and is a great improvement on the first time out here in Bahrain this season. I can’t help to think that if that first round of the season was more like this one then I would be much higher in the overall points come today, but that is racing for you and that’s why I love the sport.”  
For experienced driver Rob Frijns, it was another successful outing in which has been a consistent season for the bronze category driver. Two podium finishes this weekend is a true reflection of the hard work and dedication that is put in and gives the seasoned driver the urge to continue racing alongside his son Charlie.
Commenting after the final race of the season Rob said, “I was not expecting to race a full season here in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East but ended up racing in every race apart from Saudi Arabia. My motto is, as long as every year, on every circuit, I improve my times, then I don’t have to retire from racing. Even today I managed to better my times here and that is something that I am very proud of.
“I am a very critical father, but I think that Charlie has made a lot of progress this season. He definitely has the speed in him but he is lacking a bit of experience when it comes to winning races and holding on to leads. He is getting better and better and learning from every round and race, we both are, so I am happy and proud of Team Frijns this season and what we have achieved.”
Al Nabooda Racing’s star Jeffrey Schmidt has now won the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East Season 7 courtesy of a fourth place finish in the final race of the season.
After dominating the season the deserved victory in the championship capped a wonderful weekend of racing for UAE team Al Nabooda Racing at the Bahrain International Circuit. Zaid Ashkanani joined teammate Schmidt on the podium as he finished the series second in the driver’s standings with Ireland’s Ryan Cullen third at the end of a pulsating season.
The final race was eventually won by Ryan Cullen of Ireland, who was closely followed over the line by Saudi Arabia’s experienced racer Abdulaziz AlFaisal in second and Qatar-based emerging star Charlie Frijns in third.
The absence of Schmidt from the final race podium did not spoil the scenes of celebrations at the chequered flag for Al Nabooda Racing as they added the individual title to the team honours won in Dubai during Round 5.
The hard work had been done. Speaking as champion of Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East Season 7, Jeffrey Schmidt said: “It’s always a great feeling when you win a championship. It has felt like a long winter, twelve races over the last four months and throughout the season the competition has got tougher and tougher.”