Oman's Al-Zubair and Al-Wahaibi resume their Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle-East Series 22.01.2018: Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle-East Series programme in Dubai Oman’s racing duet of Al-Faisal Al-Zubair and rookie Khalid Al-Wahaibi resume their challenge

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle-East Series  programme in Dubai



Oman’s racing duet of Al-Faisal Al-Zubair and rookie Khalid Al-Wahaibi resume their challenge for honours in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East at the Dubai Autodrome this weekend.
 


After a winter break, since the opening two race meetings in Bahrain and Dubai in November and December, the two Omanis return to the UAE with very different objectives.
 


Al-Zubair of the Lechner Racing Middle East team and his closest rival Tom Oliphant have pulled clear of their rivals in the battle for the overall title and Al-Zubair knows the importance of beating his rival at the Autodrome and keeping up the momentum that has seen him move into real title contention.
 


Oliphant currently leads the series by six points from Al-Zubair after the pair took a race win apiece in Dubai. Charlie Frijns and Magnus Oehman are a distant third and fourth after four races.
 


“I am excited for the upcoming weekend,” said Al-Zubair. “We have Dylan Pereira my team-mate from the Super Cup, so he will be a very quick driver and then, obviously, we have Oliphant, Frijns and a few others. I think it will be difficult, but I am up for it and ready to push and, hopefully, get a win or two. I am aiming for wins. My goal is now the championship. We need to get strong points’ finishes and finishing ahead of Oliphant is the goal. It’s a long season, so it’s about consistency.”
 


Young Al-Wahaibi, on the other hand, has just graduated to becoming a Silver category driver and continues to improve on each of the races he has tackled in his very short racing career.
 


Despite his lack of race experience, the Omani has been impressive and holds eighth in the championship standings after scoring points at each of the four races so far. He is also fourth in the Silver drivers’ standings and leads the GCC Rookie Championship by 10 points from Bahrain’s Ali Al-Khalifa.
 


Al-Wahaibi said: “I am looking forward to getting back into the car in Dubai, especially after the long winter break. It’s a good way for me to prove myself once again and develop as a racing driver in the Porsche Cup car.

Hopefully, the aim is to achieve another top 10 result and move up the Silver category. After the last time out on the track we were pretty quick and I need to keep building on that. I need to use the test days as much as possible to improve.”

The two races will be held on Friday (January 26th) and Saturday (January 27th) at the Dubai Autodrome and follow the usual practice and qualifying sessions in a weekend’s motor sporting action that also features the FIA F4 UAE Championship and the UAE Sportbike Championship.
 



Firas Nimri,  Neil Perkins- also photos