Dubai. Just over two years after making motor racing history in Saudi Arabia, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East is set to produce a dramatic showdown between the Kingdom’s big title rivals.
Abdulaziz Al Faisal carries an eight-point lead into Rounds 7-8 at Reem International Circuit outside Riyadh on February 15-16, but compatriot Bandar Alesayi is planning a decisive tactical move to boost his championship ambitions.
“My plan is to get in front of Abdulaziz and stay there, whether that means a win or second place,” he says. “Finishing in front of him is what I need to do to close the gap. He is getting better every season and the experience he gained in Europe in the summer has helped him. He is the favourite and the one to beat, but my chances are getting better and better.
“I think my improvement this year has been marginally better. I know I can keep up with him now and I hope to get into a position to beat him.” Two factors are against Alesayi. His record at Reem is not particularly impressive, and he has lost the services of his engineer for the past three seasons.
“Reem is a very technical track, not particularly fast and or long,” he says. “It has a lot of slow to medium speed turns, and I like it, although I haven’t had very good results there - just one podium in eight races over the last three years.
“Overall, I haven’t had a very good experience there so far, but I hope to do much better this time. I’m going to concentrate on working with my new engineer to get a good set-up for the car. It takes time to build up an understanding, but we’re working on it.”
Alesayi could manage only fourth place when the Porsche GT3 Cup series went into the history books in January 2010 with the first FIA sanctioned international circuit race to be held in Saudi.
Victory that day for Abdulaziz was the first of six wins he has scored in eight Porsche GT3 Cup outings at Reem, all but two of which he started from pole position.
While he now has 17 wins to his credit in three seasons of the Porsche one-make series,
Alesayi has managed just two and is eager to record his first triumph on home territory.
If the leading pair lose concentration at Reem next month, Oman’s Ahmad Al Harthy will be ready to pounce as he looks to get his season back on track after a spin and a crash last time out at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit.
As Qatari’s Saddon Al Kuwari looks to extend his lead in the Michelin Silver Trophy standings, Saudi’s Fawaz Algosaibi bids to take an advantage over German Hannes Waimer in the Mobil 1 Trophy. He could be inspired by memories of how, on the same circuit in March 2010, his son Fahad, now studying in China, became the youngest ever winner in the history of Porsche one-make racing at the age of 16.
That was also a memorable day for Abdulaziz, as second place confirmed him as the first winner of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.
Championship positions after Round 6
1. Abdulaziz Al Faisal (KSA) Saudi Falcons 110pts
2. Bandar Alesayi (KSA) Saudi GT Racing 102pts
3. Stephane Lemeret (BEL) Al Nabooda Racing 86pts
4. Ahmad Al Harthy (OM) Oman Air Racing 80pts
5. Saeed Al Mouri KSA) Saudi Falcons 72pts
6. Saddon Al Kuwari (QA) 51pts
7. Clemens Schmid (AUT) 50pts
8. Hans Guido Riegel (GER) Haribo Racing 39pts
8. Armin Schmid CH Team TCE 39pts
10. Fawaz Algosaibi (KSA) Saudi GT Racing 30pts
10. Hannes Waimer (GER) Team TCE 30pts
Michelin Silver Trophy
1. Saddon Al Kuwari (QA) 51pts
2. Hans Guido Riegel (GER) Haribo Racing 39pts
2. Armin Schmid CH Team TCE 39pts
4. Mark Thomas (CAN) 27pts
Mobil 1 Trophy
1. Fawaz Algosaibi (KSA) Saudi GT Racing 30pts
1. Hannes Waimer (GER) 30pts
3. Rob Frijns (NL) Frins Structural Steel 22pts
4. Manfred Ender (AUT) Frins Structural Steel 13pts
5. Cengiz J.Oguzhan (TUR) 9pts
6. Jaber Al Khalifa (BAH) 7pts
Captions:
1. Bandar Alesayi: aiming for his first Porsche GT3 Cup victory in Saudi.
2. Championship leader Abdulaziz – looking for more success at the Reem circuit
where he made became the Middle East’s first