RIYADH — Jeffrey Schmidt seemed unstoppable as he extend his winning streak to four wins in four races with the latest win in race 2 of Round 2 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East at Al-Reem Circuit in Riyadh Saturday.
Al-Nabooda Racing once again proved unbeatable with championship leader Jeffrey Schmidt securing another landmark victory to extend his winning streak to four wins in four races in race 2 of Round 2 at the Al-Reem International Circuit in Riyadh Saturday.
In a repeat of the opening race of Round 2, championship leader Schmidt blazed from pole position on the grid following an outstanding qualifying session to take the checkered flag and top place on the podium unchallenged. The newcomer to UAE’s Al-Nabooda Racing underlined his title winning pedigree securing the win over seventeen laps by a gap of 1.515 seconds to extend his lead in the overall driver standings to 14 points.
Ireland’s Ryan Cullen followed Schmidt over the line in second place with Al-Nabooda’s Zaid Ashkanani of Kuwait returning to the podium again to claim a hard earned third spot.
There was further good news for the UAE as Skydive Dubai Falcons driver Saeed Al-Mehairi advanced from fifth on the grid to fourth, just outside the podium places.
Elsewhere Qatar-based driver Charlie Frijns was fifth and home favorite Abdulaziz AlFaisal sixth.
Speaking after a dream debut weekend in Saudi Arabia, a delighted Schmidt said: “The race was really sandy. It was definitely one of the toughest races I have had.
“It’s been four races and four wins, but the other drivers are getting closer and closer so I definitely need to work hard to stay in front.”
Thanks to Schmidt and Ashkanani, Al-Nabooda Racing has managed to increase its lead in the team championship to 45 points (182 points) going into the winter break with two of the six rounds completed.
Saudi Arabia’s newly formed Al-Faisal Racing team provided local fans with a spirited performance as teammates and brothers Abdulaziz finished sixth while Saud Al-Faisal claimed eighth.
Under difficult conditions Abdulaziz qualified seventh. Abdulaziz did seize an opportunity with some determined driving to overcome Sheikh Hasher Maktoum of the Skydive Dubai Falcons on lap six.
Speaking after the race Abdulaziz said: “It was a tough race, I got a good position from the start then lost out to Charlie Frijns. On the third lap I managed to overtake Sheikh Hasher and so did Charlie, I tried to catch up to Frijns but he kept extending the lead.
“We have a lot to work to do over the winter break but we look forward to 2016 and the remainder of the season.”
The championship now heads into a winter break before resuming in the UAE for three back-to-back rounds to kick start the New Year across January and February, closely followed by the return to Bahrain for the climactic conclusion to the season in early March. — SG
