Schmid, Al Harthy in championship driving seat as Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East reaches climax
Al Nabooda Racing aim to clinch double Porsche GT3 Cup title success in Bahrain
Al Nabooda Racing are ready for a tense climax to the season at Bahrain International Circuit later this month as they look to secure another double title triumph in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.
The defending team champions carry an eight-point lead into the last two rounds of the 2014-15 Porsche GT3 Cup series in Bahrain on 18-19 April, while Clemens Schmid holds a 12-point advantage in the race for the drivers’ title.
With nearest rivals Sky Dive Dubai Falcons determined to make a powerful charge during the final race weekend of the season, Schmid and team-mate Ahmad Al Harthy know they will need to be at their best to ensure a third successive championship crown for Al Nabooda Racing.
But team manager Vijay Rao says they are fully prepared for the showdown in Bahrain, saying: “We knew that it would be more difficult to take the team title this year after winning it for the last two seasons.
“Our success has made us the team to beat, and so we’ve had to work even harder than ever to keep hold of our No.1 spot.
“But Clemens has again shown himself to be the outstanding driver in the series, and Ahmad has worked very hard in his first season with the team and they have built up a good understanding.
“They will be under pressure in Bahrain, but they know exactly what to expect and I have every faith in them to work together to get the results we need over the two races.”
Schmid’s nearest challenger in the drivers’ standings is Kuwait’s Zaid Ashkanani, who pipped him for the title by a single point last season.
But the talented young Austrian has won seven out of ten rounds this season and heads to Bahrain looking unbeatable as he bids to secure his second drivers’ crown in three years.
“Clemens is very confident and why not,” said Rao. “He likes the Bahrain track, and has won seven of the last eight Porsche GT3 Cup races staged there. We have also clinched the team title there for the last two seasons, and we intend to bring it back to Dubai again.”
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East – team standings:
1. Al Nabooda Racing (UAE) 351pts
2. SKY DIVE Dubai Falcons (UAE) 343
3. Classic Arabia Racing (KSA) 258
4. Team Bahrain (BAH) 218
5. Frijns Structural Steel ME (QAT) 199
Driver standings
1. Clemens Schmid (UAE) 240pts
2. Zaid Ashkanani (KUW) 228
3. Saeed Al Mehairi (UAE) 177
4. Charlie Frijns (NED) 170
5. Hasher Al Maktoum (UAE) 166
6. Raed Raffi (BAH) 138
7. Fahad Al Gosabi (KSA) 122
8. Wolfgang Triller (GER) 121
9. Ahmad Al Harthy (OM) 111
10. Bandar Alesayi (KSA) 101