Dubai. Ahmad Al Harthy, Oman’s top racing driver, will be an exciting new addition to the starting line-up when the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East launches its third season in Dubai next week.
The Oman Air Racing Team confirmed today that Al Harthy will contest the 12-round series in full, and the 30-year-old from Muscat now looks forward to making a strong challenge for the drivers’ title in the one-make series.
He launches straight into pre-season testing at Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi on Sunday and Monday (October 30-31) when the 2012 edition Porsche GT3 Cup car will be in action for the first time anywhere in the world.
Enjoying continued support from his sponsors, Oman Air, Nawras, National Bank of Oman, Brand Oman, Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs and Oman Ministry of Tourism, Al Harthy makes his competitive debut in the Porsche GT3 Cup series in the opening two rounds at Dubai Autodrome on November 4-5.
The Omani has become one of the top drivers in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship over the past couple of years and recently concluded his second season of sportscar racing in the UK by taking third place in the Pro-Am 1 driver standings.
Racking up two class wins and a total of 12 podium finishes from 19 races, he confirmed his position as Oman’s top circuit racer and will undoubtedly be a Pro-Am 1 championship threat if he returns to the British series next April.
His immediate priority, however, is the Porsche GT3 Cup series, and Al Harthy is thrilled to be entering the championship. “This is fantastic news for the Oman Air Racing Team”, he said, “We’ve had an amazing season in the UK championship and now we have a chance to race at home in the Middle East. It’s a wonderful opportunity and I’m so grateful to all of my sponsors for helping to make this happen.
“It’s certainly a great honour to be one of the first drivers in the world to sample the brand new 2012 model of the Porsche GT3 Cup car. The car I’ve raced in the UK this year has been incredible to drive, and any improvement on that will be just sensational. I can’t wait for the first test.”
He will be testing at Yas Marina Circuit over the next two days (Oct 30-31) along with most of the 2011-12 season challengers, including Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal, who was the Middle East’s first ever Porsche GT3 Cup champion.
It will be invaluable track experience for Al Harthy and the Oman Air Racing Team. Following the season opener in Dubai, they quickly head back to the UAE capital for the next two rounds which form part of the race support programme for the 2011 Formula 1TM Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 12-13.
Al Harthy said: “Continuing to race over the next few months will help to keep me sharp, something that will be really important ahead of the 2012 championship in Britain – if we have the chance to go back next year of course.
“The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East has grown rapidly over the last couple of years. It’s very well organised and I’m delighted to be part of it. We intend to proudly fly the flag for Oman.”
Captions:
1. Oman’s Ahmad Al Harthy – thrilled to be joining the Porsche GT3 Cup series.
2. Al Harthy has enjoyed considerable success in Porsche Carrera Cup racing in the UK.