Abdulaziz plans attack from the front on Abu Dhabi F1 weekend
Abu Dhabi. Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal is planning to attack from the front as he looks to strengthen his lead in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East over Formula One weekend in Abu Dhabi.
The championship leader will enter Round 3 of the 12-round Porsche one-make series at lunch time tomorrow (Saturday) as the strong favourite for a second successive victory.
Chasing his third Porsche GT3 Cup crown in three years, Prince Abdulaziz could manage only fourth fastest time in this morning’s official 30-minute practice session at Yas Marina Circuit, which saw an impressive display from Oman’s Ahmad Al Harthy.
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Setting the pace and clearly enjoying the big occasion in Abu Dhabi in his first season in the series, Al Harthy recorded the fastest lap of 2:14.973, ahead of Saudi’s Bandar Alesayi, 2:15.024, and Belgian driver Stephane Lemeret, 2:15.371, with the Dubai-based Al Nabooda Racing.
Prince Abdulaziz, 2:15.700, his team-mate Saeed Al Mouri, 2:17.024 and Canadian Mark Thomas, 2:19.618, completed the top six.
The results from practice will not, however, concern Prince Abdulaziz, who said that he had been concentrating on “bedding down the brakes, and not pushing too hard.” He is saving his best for tomorrow morning’s (9.50am) qualifying session, and for Round 3 to follow in the afternoon (12.45pm) as he looks to build on a hugely impressive record in the Porsche one-make series, now in its third season and again on the F1 race support programme at Yas Marina Circuit.
He won the first ever round in Bahrain, one of his nine successes en route to the 2009-10 drivers’ title, and his victory in Round 2 in Dubai last Saturday was his 16th in 26 races, half of which he has started from pole position.
The Porsche GT3 Cup drivers have a double incentive in tomorrow’s qualifying session which will decide pole position for both Round 3 and for Round 4 taking place on Sunday afternoon (12.10pm) in the countdown to the 2011 Formula 1TM Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Official practice results
1. Ahmad Al Harthy (OM) Oman Air Racing 2:14.973
2. Bandar Alesayi (KSA) Alesayi Racing 2:15.024
3. Stephane Lemeret (BEL) Al Nabooda Racing 2:15.371
4. Abdulaziz Al Faisal (KSA) Saudi Falcons 2:15.700
5. Saeed Al Mouri KSA) Saudi Falcons 2:17.024
6. Mark Thomas (CAN) 2:19.618
7. Armin Schmid (CH) Team TCE 2:19.634
8. Hans Guido Riegel (GER) Haribo Racing 2:19.682
9. Rob Frijns (NL) Frijns Structural Steel 2:19.756
10. Hannes Waimer (GER) Team TCE 2:20.102
Caption:
1. Oman’s Ahmad Al Harthy setting the pace
2. Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal – saving his best for qualifying and Round 3
3. Bandar Alesayi – second fastest on the day
4. Stephane Lemeret – third fastest time for Al Nabooda Racing