Attention turns to Round 3 in Abu Dhabi

  ABU DHABI — A short winter break has proved only to heighten interest, increase driver focus and build anticipation as the region’s leading race series speeds toward a long-awaited return to the UAE’s capital for Round 3 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. The Middle East’s most competitive drivers will return to the track at the Yas Marina Circuit for the first time in over three years with two races scheduled on Jan. 22. The newly-formed Al-Faisal racing team which consists of Saudi brothers, Abdulaziz Al-Faisal and Saud Al-Faisal are enjoying their first team season in the series and although they haven’t had the flying start they had hoped for, the vastly experienced Abdulaziz is confident that it’s a case of getting back into the swing of things and finding their form in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive seasons to date. The last time the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East came to Abu Dhabi, Abdulaziz won both races on the F1 circuit, and will be keen to replicate the immense driving that he displayed the last time out here at the Yas Marina track. “After taking a year out from Porsche racing it was always going to be challenging coming back into this series in which the competition gets tougher and tougher each year. I am very excited about the race in Abu Dhabi and have great memories here from the last time out. The track provides so many opportunities to get the cars up to top speed and allows for some great racing. We have worked hard as a team over the winter break to fine tune some areas and we can’t wait to get off to a great start in 2016!” For younger brother Saud the experience of racing amongst seasoned professionals and on this highly competitive stage is great for his confidence and sets a solid platform for him to progress and develop his driving at this level. For racing fans in the UAE, the return of the spectacular Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East to the capital will serve as a timely reminder of the country’s domination so far this season with Jeffrey Schmidt’s Al-Nabooda Racing Team occupying two of the top three spots in the standings. Schmidt who heads the overall championship by twelve points from his two consecutive round wins, is keen to replicate his invincible form from the start of the season as the action hits Abu Dhabi. After two exhilarating first rounds of the new Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Al-Nabooda sit comfortably atop of the team standings as well, no doubt helped by the dynamic duo’s incredibly consistent performances. However, with the new series only midway through, anything can happen – especially at the notoriously challenging Yas Marina Circuit, famed for hosting the annual Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and for its unique turns and long straights which allow for plenty of overtaking opportunities. Regarded as the purest form of racing with all drivers competing in identical fifth generation Porsche 911 GT3s, the unique one-make series consists of 12 races between Nov. 2015 and March 2016. The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East now heads to the UAE for three rounds in a row to kick start the New Year across January and February, closely followed by the return to Bahrain in early March which is set to be a thrilling end to series 7.