The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East which opens a new season next weekend could feature a three-way battle for supremacy, according to defending champion Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia.
The first rounds of the one-make series take place on November 13-14 as the official support races for the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit.
“UAE’s Khalid Al Qubaisi has been testing for the whole summer. He’s picked up a lot of speed. I think it’s going to be a three-way challenge,” said Al Faisal who won a record nine race victories in 12 rounds to become the first GT3 Cup Challenge champion in the Middle East.
Following the opening two rounds in Abu Dhabi, the 2010-11 series, which is sponsored by Michelin and Mobil 1, continues with further rounds split between Yas Marina Circuit, Bahrain International Circuit and Reem International Circuit outside Riyadh, where it made history last season as the first international circuit race event ever staged in the Kingdom.
Determined to make a strong start to the new season on home territory, Al Qubaisi gained invaluable experience in the summer competing in the Porsche Mobil 1 Super Cup and aims to add consistency to his obvious natural pace. He will be joined by two other UAE drivers Ibrahim Salloum and Musaed Al Murar who make their series debut in Abu Dhabi.
The ‘arrive and drive’ nature of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge has opened up a thrilling new world of race action for people like Al Qubaisi, an acquisitions advisor with Mubadala Development Company in Abu Dhabi.
“I’m a busy person and don’t have much time to spend at the race track. When I heard Porsche were introducing this new concept here, I knew it was unique opportunity. It’s a fantastic experience,” said Al Qubaisi.
While he dominated the inaugural championship, Prince Abdulaziz expects a tough title defence. Among those carrying serious title ambitions of their own are last year’s runner-up, Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Saudi teenage sensation Fahad Algosaibi, who twice drove into the record books during the 2009-10 season, and Abu Dhabi’s Khaled Al Qubaisi.
“I showed the potential last year with the most number of seven pole positions. Basically I would like to convert those times into wins,” said Sheikh Salman who was looking forward to the challenge.
Porsche’s long and illustrious record of involvement in motor sport was underlined today during an official press conference at Dubai Autodrome to preview the second season of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.
On display alongside the latest version of the Porsche GT3 Cup car, which is making a world premiere in the series, were some of the most famous racing models ever built, including Porsche’s first car designed for motorsport more than half a century ago, the 550 Spyder built in 1954. All in all, six cars were flown to the UAE from their permanent home at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany for a rare public appearance on November 6 at Porsche Centre Dubai.
Prince Abdulaziz and several other drivers from the 2010-11 season starting line-up had their initial test sessions behind the wheel of the 450 horsepower 2011 Porsche GT3 Cup car unveiled for the first time in Dubai on Monday.
“This is the first official test. It’s looking great. This year there is very minimal change to the car,” said Sheikh Salman.
“It’s very similar to last year’s car. What we have been doing is trying to get the fast times, see how far we can improve the speeds of the car to be ready for the race in Abu Dhabi,” said Prince Abdulaziz who is surprised there is no race in his favourite Dubai Autodrome track where he has taken part in three 24 hours race.
“Like the drivers, we’re all excited about the new season ahead, especially after the excellent start we enjoyed last year which exceeded our expectations,” said Andre Oosthuizen, Marketing Director, Porsche Middle East and Africa.
“Porsche is proud of its racing heritage, and we’re particularly delighted to be able to showcase some of the classic cars which have enabled us to develop such an outstanding reputation over the last five decades.”
“At the same time, we’re delighted to introduce the latest GT3 Cup car. We will be the first region to put the new car through its paces in our series which, we believe has all the right ingredients to go from strength to strength in the years ahead.”
Walter Lechner, the former racing star now driving the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East as head of Austrian-based Lechner Racing, said: “I used to drive Porsche cars at Le Mans, but I’m just as excited to be part of this championship as a manager. And I have to admit I was a little jealous of the drivers when they went out in their new cars for the first time yesterday.”
“The 911 GT3 Cup car offers outstanding performance and we look forward to breathtaking fights in a competitive second season.”
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East 2010-2011 race calendar
Rounds 1 and 2
November 13-14 Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi
Rounds 3 and 4
December 2-3 Bahrain International Circuit, Manama
Rounds 5 and 6
January 19-20 Reem International Circuit, Riyadh
Rounds 7 and 8
February 18-19 Bahrain International Circuit, Manama
Rounds 9 and 10
To be confirmed
Rounds 11 and 12
April 8-9 Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi
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