Abdul Aziz and Salman set for Friday showdown

Dubai: Bahrain's Shaikh Salman Bin Rashid Al Khalifa and Saudi Arabia's Prince Abdul Aziz Al Faisal are ready for a spectacular title showdown when the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East roars back into action at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit on Friday.

Both drivers are planning an all-out attack in a bid to secure victory in each of the three races to be run within six hours on the most dramatic day yet for the Porsche one-make series.

Six-point championship leader Shaikh Salman knows that if he hits his target he will have a virtually unassailable advantage to take into the final three rounds of the season at the Dubai Autodrome the following weekend.

Grand finale

But defending champion Abdul Aziz, who won nine out of 12 rounds on his way to the title last season, feels a big Friday in Abu Dhabi could put him back in pole position for the grand finale in Dubai on April 15-16.

"The only way to approach three races in a day is to go flat out as I need to gain maximum points," he said.

"By the time we get to Dubai I'd like to be ahead of Salman, or at least level, which is where I will be if I can push him into second place in each of the races.

"It's going to be quite demanding because the races are basically sprints and you have to give 100 per cent from the start. I don't know what's going to happen as we haven't had three races in a day before.

"It's something new for everyone. I've been trying to keep in shape for the past six months. I've never trained for three races in a single day, but this all adds to the thrill of racing and I'm ready for it."

Standings

Championship positions after six rounds

1. Salman Bin Rashid Al Khalifa (BAH) 110pts

2. Abdul Aziz Al Faisal (KSA) Al Faisal Racing Team 104pts

3. Khalid Al Qubaisi (UAE) tolimit Arabia 98pts

4. Fahad Algosaibi (KSA) ClassicArabia Racing 85pts

5. Bandar Alesayi (KSA) 80pts

6. Musaed Al Murar (UAE) tolimit Arabia 57pts

7. Ebrahim Salloum (UAE) Abu Dhabi Falcon Racing 49pts

8. Johannes Waimer (GER) 37pts

9. Fawaz Al Gosaibi (KSA) ClassicArabia Racing 27pts

10. Alain Muraour (F) 25pts