Abu Dhabi. Oman’s Ahmad Al Harthy recorded a comfortable victory in Round 4 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East at Yas Marina Circuit today for his first win in the series as the F1 race weekend in Abu Dhabi headed for its climax.
Starting in pole position for the second day in a row, Al Harthy led from start to finish and eventually won by 4.2 seconds from Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal who regained his outright lead in the 12-round championship.
After his Round 3 victory 24 hours earlier, Saudi Bandar Alesayi had high hopes of improving on his third place on the grid, but he lost that at the start of the first lap to Stephane Lemeret of Dubai-based Al Nabooda Racing, and had to settle for fourth place behind the Belgian.
As on the previous day, the top six was completed by Saeed Al Mouri, team-mate of Prince Abdulaziz, and Swiss driver Armin Schmid.
Finishing seventh overall, Qatar’s Saadon Al Kuwari, who is contesting the Porsche one-make series for the first time, maintained his 100 per cent record in the Mobil 1 Trophy for drivers over 45.
Al Harthy, who is also enjoying his debut season in the 12-round championship, certainly rose to the occasion as the Porsche GT3 Cup cars shared the stage with the Formula 1TM Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
He was fastest in official practice on Friday, and set the two fastest times in qualifying on Saturday morning to earn pole position for both 14-lap GT3 Cup races this weekend.
An early mistake in Round 3 let Alesayi through for victory. But Al Harthy was virtually flawless today as he shrugged off some early pressure from Prince Abdulaziz, the driver he will now be chasing in what promises to be a thrilling title race which resumes in Abu Dhabi next month.
Round 4 results
1. Ahmad Al Harthy (OM) Oman Air Racing 31:43.882
2. Abdulaziz Al Faisal (KSA) Saudi Falcons 31:48.089
3. Stephane Lemeret (BEL) Al Nabooda Racing 31:49.253
4. Bandar Alesayi (KSA) Alesayi Racing 31:51.597
5. Saeed Al Mouri KSA) Saudi Falcons 32:16.801
6. Armin Schmid (CH) Team TCE 32:34.921
7. Saadon Al Kuwari (QA) 32:38.052
8. Hans Guido Riegel (GER) Haribo Racing 32:46.934
9. Wolfgang Treml AUT TW Racing 33:00.058
10. Rob Frijns NL 33:00.762
Championship positions after Round 4
1. Abdulaziz Al Faisal (KSA) Saudi Falcons 72pts
2. Bandar Alesayi (KSA) Alesayi Racing 68pts
3. Ahmad Al Harthy (OM) Oman Air Racing 66pts
4. Stephane Lemeret (BEL) Al Nabooda Racing 58pts
5. Saeed Al Mouri KSA) Saudi Falcons 46pts
6. Sadoon Al Kuwari (QA) 34pts
7. Mark Thomas (CAN) 27pts
8. Hans Guido Riegel (GER) Haribo Racing 24pts
9. Hannes Waimer (GER) 23pts
10. Clemens Schmid (AUT) 20pts
10. Armin Schmid CH Team TCE
Mobil 1 Trophy
1. Sadoon Al Kuwari (QA) 80pts
2. Hannes Waimer (GER) 63pts
3. Hans Guido Riegel (GER) Haribo Racing 62pts
4. Fawaz Algosaibi (KSA) ClassicArabia Racing 54pts
5. Rob Frijns (NL) 44pts
6. Manfred Ender (AUT) 33pts
7. Jaber Al Khalifa (BAH) 22pts
8. Alain Muraour (F) 10pts
Captions:
1. Ahmad Al Harthy celebrates on the podium with Prince Abdulaziz and Stephane
Lemeret
2. Qatar’s Saddon Al Kuwari takes the Mobil 1 Trophy
3. Al Harthy on his way to victory in his Porsche GT3 Cup car
4. Stephane Lemeret gave Al Nabooda Racing a podium finish
5. Qatari Al Kuwari – enjoying his first season in the Porsche GT3 Cup series