Motorsport heroes the Saudi Falcons are hoping to secure silverware this weekend as season five of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East comes to a thrilling finale. The Saudi outfit sit third in the team standings with Abdulaziz AlFaisal third in the drivers’ table after Race 1 of Round 6 at the Bahrain International Circuit.
The Saudi duo of Abdulaziz AlFaisal and Faisal Binladen are only two points behind closest rivals Skydive Dubai Falcons who lie second in the team challenge with just one race to go.
After a difficult qualifying session, AlFaisal started Race 1 from tenth position but pushed hard throughout the tight battle and was able to make up some ground to finish seventh. Binladen started the race from twelfth and dropped down one position to end in thirteenth.
Speaking after the race Abdulaziz AlFaisal said, “I felt we were unlucky in qualifying and were left with a lot to do in the race itself. I and Sheikh Hasher were neck and neck for a lot of the race which was great fun but I seemed to have a bit of an issue with the tyres and as the race worn on he managed to get past me. It wasn’t the best result but we have another race left and I’m in contention for the drivers’ title which is a real positive. As a team we also have an opportunity to lift a trophy for what has been one of the best seasons of motor racing. Tomorrow is shaping up to be a fantastic event.”
Also looking forward to the season finale is Faisal Binladen who is hopeful of getting his hands on a trophy, “Today was not the greatest for us but we have another chance to end the weekend and the season on a fantastic high. It’s been a phenomenal season and with a good performance tomorrow we can secure some silverware.”
Race 1 produced an absorbing encounter with positions changing regularly between the top six. Frijns took full advantage of Ashkanani’s poor start, jumping from second to first in the opening lap with Mehairi moving ahead of the Kuwaiti into second. Ashkanani bided his time until lap seven where he regained, taking advantage of mistakes made by Frijns and Al Mehairi to ensure control of the race.
Once in control, Ashkanani kept his nemesis Schmid at bay to win the race by 3.115 seconds and move five points clear in the title showdown with one race to go.
The battle to finish in the top six in the penultimate race of the season was just as exciting as the top half of the table. Skydive Dubai Falcons went into the race looking to close the gap on Saudi Falcons in the Team title category and duly obliged to the challenge. Despite moving into second at once stage of the race Al Mehairi finished fourth with Al Nabooda Racings Karim Al-Azhari finished fifth to help team-mate close in on the team title.