ABU DHABI — Saudi driver Mohammed Al-Saud, topped off a productive racing weekend, with his second podium position in the bronze category. The young driver has been building on his performances over the last couple of rounds, and this weekend everything seemed to come together. Al-Saud looked confident and composed as he drove an impressive race from start to finish, defending well and making the right attacking moves and the right times. Speaking after the race, Al-Saud said, “It has been a great weekend of racing for me, and I am really pleased with the results I’ve achieved. Two podium finishes in my category, and I felt really confident out there on the track. I’ve been working hard over the last couple of rounds, studying my data and developing some of my weaknesses. This weekend has showed me that hard work pays off, and my hopes of winning the bronze category title this season are definitely still alive.” At the front of the race, Britain’s Tom Oliphant has boosted his chances of a first series win in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East by winning the second race of Round 4 at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The fine victory extends Oliphant’s lead in the championship to 19 points with only four races remaining in Season 9, after nearest challenger Al-Faisal Al-Zubair of Oman could only manage seventh place finish. A comfortable Oliphant was crossed over the line by Dylan Pereira of Luxembourg in second and Dutch driver Charlie Frijns third after being gifted the opportunity for the win on the opening lap as those around him clashed. By his own high standards Oliphant endured a frustrating qualifying session to qualify in third on the grid, behind previous race winner Dylan Pereira, who started in pole and close rival Al Faisal in second. But any sign of disappointment was soon forgotten as Oliphant made a strong start to take advantage of a crowded first lap in which he catapulted himself into the lead ahead of Pereira and Al Zubair on the back straight. While engaged in their own battle for first place the duo of Pereira and Al Faisal managed to outbreak themselves to leave the door open for Oliphant to nip through and steal the lead. A position he didn’t relinquish until the chequered flag, winning by a margin of 1.215 seconds. In contrast to Oliphant’s race, Al-Faisal had a race to forget finishing seventh. — SG