Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa made the perfect start to the new season in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East on Saturday with a brilliant victory in the first round at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Starting second on the grid behind Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal after the defending champion had grabbed pole position earlier in the afternoon, Sheikh Salman was determined to make his mark on a big race weekend in the UAE capital.
And after gradually increasing the pressure on Prince Abdulaziz in the first half of the 14-lap race he made a decisive move to take the lead on lap eight, and never looked back.
Taking third place for his first podium finish in the championship was a delighted Khaled Al Qubaisi, the Abu Dhabi driver who had been eager to impress on his home circuit after suffering a series of disappointments last season.
Teenager Fahad Algosaibi, who at 16 became the youngest ever winner in Porsche one-make series racing last season, secured fourth position, with fellow Saudis Bandar Alesayi and Faisal Binladen completing the top six.
Round1 results:
1. Salman Bin Rashid Al Khalifa (BAH) 31:53.805
2. Abdulaziz Al Faisal (KSA) Al Faisal Racing Team 31:54.176
3. Khaled Al Qubaisi (UAE) tolimit Arabia 31:54.922
4. Fahad Algosaibi (KSA) ClassicArabia Racing 32:04.786
5. Bandar Alesayi (KSA) 32:07.693
6. Faisal Binladen (KSA) Saudi Falcon Racing 32:17.523
7. Musaed Al Murar (UAE) tolimit arabia 32:26.276
8. Ibrahim Salloum (UAE) Abu Dhabi Falcon Racing 32:39.567
9. Oscar Slingerland (NL) Speedlover NL 33:29.529
10. Fawaz Algosaibi (KSA) ClassicArabia Racing 33:40.544
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