Oman's Al-Zubair and Al-Wahaibi head for Bahrain 12.03.2018: ...with different goals in crucial Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge races PORSCHE GT3 CUP CHALLENGE MIDDLE EAST Races 9-10 – Sakhir Circuit, Bahrain, March 16-17, 2018

...with different goals in crucial Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge races
 
 

PORSCHE GT3 CUP CHALLENGE MIDDLE EAST
Races 9-10 – Sakhir Circuit, Bahrain, March 16-17, 2018

Oman’s Al-Faisal Al-Zubair and Khalid Al-Wahaibi resume their respective challenges for Gold and Silver category successes in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East at Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit this weekend.
 


The ninth and 10th races in the demanding regional calendar follow a six-week gap since the last two rounds in Abu Dhabi that left Al-Zubair in second position in the overall standings, trailing series leader Tom Oliphant by 19 points.



 The Omani holds a comfortable second position with Charlie Frijns in third place, 21 points behind the Lechner Racing Middle East driver.
 


A costly collision in the second of the races at Yas Marina dropped Al-Zubair to an eventual seventh position and that unfortunate incident proved expensive in the battle for the overall championship title.
 


Al-Zubair said: “I have made good preparation fitness-wise and we have just noted that the track is going to be the Grand Prix track not the short circuit. I am going for the win. I am excited for it. The championship battle should be fun.”
 


Al-Wahaibi finished the last race in a career-best fourth position to win the Silver, Rookie and GCC categories and the young Omani will be hoping to build on that success in Bahrain.
 


He holds sixth in the overall drivers’ standings, second place in the Silver category – a mere three points behind Sweden’s Magnus Oehman and five ahead of Christoffer Bergström. Al-Wahaibi also leads South Africa’s Saul Hack by 19 points in the Rookie Championship.
 


Al-Wahaibi remarked: “It’s been a long break since the last round in Abu Dhabi, over a month, so I cannot wait to get back into the car and start driving again. I’m really looking forward to it, especially as I have only driven at Bahrain once. Hopefully we can keep improving and moving forward on the grid. That is the main goal to keep showing the progress that we have made.”
 


Drivers will take part in practice qualifying sessions and races nine and 10 in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East on Sakhir’s short circuit on Friday and Saturday.
 



Firas Nimri,  Neil Perkins -  also photos