Abu Dhabi. Austrian Clemens Schmid won Round 6 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East at Yas Marina Circuit today after a great battle with Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal who extended his lead in the championship for the second day running.
Starting from pole position as he had done 24 hours earlier, Schmid immediately lost the lead in the race to the first corner and spent the next ten laps desperately trying to find a way past Prince Abdulaziz.
He finally made it with four of the 14 laps remaining and held on for a slender victory, although second place for the Saudi driver still saw him stretch his advantage in the title race to eight points over Bandar Alesayi who finished third.
Another Saudi, Saeed Al Mouri, took fourth place ahead of Belgian driver Stephane Lemeret who fought his up from the back of the field after spinning off on the first corner.
Swiss driver Armin Schmid just managed to hold off Saddon Al Kuwari to complete the top six, although the Qatari driver finished the race as the comfortable leader in the new Michelin Silver Trophy standings for the intermediate class.
Oman’s Ahmad Al Harthy went out of the race when he slid into a barrier on lap six in an incident which also saw Al Mouri spin out and lose third place to Alesayi.
Round 6 results
1. Clemens Schmid (AUT) 27:57.253
2. Abdulaziz Al Faisal (KSA) Saudi Falcons 27:58.325
3. Bandar Alesayi (KSA) Alesayi Racing 28:05.736
4. Saeed Al Mouri KSA) Saudi Falcons 28:30.137
5. Stephane Lemeret (BEL) Al Nabooda Racing 28:30.450
6. Armin Schmid (CH) Team TCE 28:36.844
7. Saddon Al Kuwari (QAT) 28:37.237
8. Hans Guido Riegel (GER) Haribo Racing 28:42.186
9. Hannes Waimer (GER) Team TCE 29:16.074
10. Rob Frijns (NL) 29:16.610
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) ClassicArabia Racing 30pts
1. Hannes Waimer (GER) 30pts
3. Rob Frijns (NL) 22pts
4. Manfred Ender (AUT) 13pts
5. Cengiz J.Oguzhan (TUR) 9pts
6. Jaber Al Khalifa (BAH) 7pts
Captions:
1. Clemens Schmid battled his way to a dramatic victory from Prince Abdulaziz in
Round 6 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East at Yas Marina Circuit.
2. Celebrating on the podium, Schmid, Prince Abdulaziz and Bandar Alesayi.