Team Bahrain are targeting the return leg in Qatar to bring some momentum and form after failing to collect valuable points in Race 2 of Round 3 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East at the Losail International Circuit in a race won by Saudi Falcons guest driver Jeffrey Schmidt.
The race began with a rolling start due to wet conditions under the lights in Doha where Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa struggled early on and fell down the pecking order in a tight midfield battle. The former champion was unable to battle through the crowd and withdrew from the race with one lap to go.
Meanwhile team-mate Mohammed Matter was also submerged in the contest with Skydive Dubai Falcons pair Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum and Saeed Al Mehairi. The Silver Michelin category runner-up was unable to break free from the duo, finishing in ninth position.
“Hugely disappointed with the result after a fantastic starting position. The conditions were a real test of character and ability and I lost my position very early. Then I was involved in a battle, which was very tight from sixth to ten but we will be back here again and we will be pushing ourselves again. I have huge confidence that we can deliver the goods and finish the season on a high,” Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa said.
Starting from pole position and sitting in for Faisal Binladen, Jeffrey Schmidt produced a flying start to canter through to a 5.750 seconds victory. The revelation of the season, Kuwait teenager Zaid Ashkanani continued his impressive run of form to finish runner-up, ahead of reigning champion Clemens Schmid.
Switzerland’s Jeffrey Schmidt, with a burgeoning reputation in motorsport in his teenage years, dominated from a rolling start following sustained rain throughout the day in Doha to control the race and never looked threatened as he accelerated away from the 17-car grid.
Starting from fourth, Ashkanani once again produced a mature performance to overtake Al Khalifa and Clemens Schmid in the early stages of the race to continue his notable run of podium finishes. The exciting teenager also moved to second in the championship standings, 27-points behind leader Schmid.
“It is one of the highlights of my career if you take into consideration the race conditions and where I started on the gird. I was lucky Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa and Schmid made mistakes which helped me get the runners-up spot. I will continue to fight till the last race of the season and if I’m lucky, maybe be in for a shot at the drivers’ title,” Ashkanani said.
Championship leader Schmid, starting second on the grid, was involved in a tough battle throughout the race against Ashkanani and Saudi Falcons Abdulaziz AlFaisal. In lap three, Schmid lost his second place position and dropped down the pecking order as Ashkanani and AlFaisal took advantage of the Austrian’s error. However, Schmid showed his champion qualities to fight back and claim third place.
With an absorbing battle for places on the podium, the race to complete the top six was just as captivating with positions interchanging regularly. Starting third on the grid, Salman Al Khalifa fell down the field in the first lap and after a mid-grid battle was unable to complete the race, withdrawing in lap ten.
Saudi’s Fahad Algosaibi kept hold of his position throughout the race despite constant pressure from Christina Nielsen and Karim Al-Azhari to claim fifth position. The fight for the final spot was absorbing with Nielsen keeping hold of the position for the majority of the race before the veteran Al Nabooda Racing driver Al-Azhari showed there was no substitute for experience to take sixth position and claim the points for his team.
The series returns to the Losail International Circuit for Round 4 on 31st January and 1st February 2014.