Abdul Aziz way ahead in Mideast leg

Abu Dhabi: Prince Abdul Aziz Al Faisal has a convincing lead in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East following an eventful weekend at Yas Marina Circuit, but with half the season remaining the title race could still be heading for a dramatic conclusion.

Aiming for a second GT3 Cup triumph in three years, the Saudi driver is clearly the man to beat following a near perfect display in Abu Dhabi, which saw him double his championship lead to eight points over compatriot Bandar Al Esayi.

Outperformed

Prince Abdul Aziz was outperformed in qualifying, however, as Austrian Clemens Schmid grabbed pole position twice in just 24 hours. But Schmid's advantage in round five of the series disappeared early on the first lap, when he suffered a drive through penalty after forcing Prince Abdul Aziz wide on turn two, and eventually finished sixth.

That gave Prince Abdul Aziz a clear path to victory and he won by just over eight seconds from Al Esayi, while Belgian driver Stephane Lemeret grabbed the other podium position for Dubai-based Al Nabooda Racing.

Hoping to make amends in round six for his mistake the previous day, Schmid quickly lost his lead as Prince Abdul Aziz squeezed past him at the first corner. The next ten laps produced a classic battle between the top two, with Schmid eventually finding a way through and holding on over the last four laps to record his second victory of the series.

Al Esayi had to settle for third place, but he remains the driver most likely to ensure the Porsche one-make series produces a tense last-round climax in Bahrain at the end of March.

RESULTS

Positions after Round 6 in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

1. Prince Abdul Aziz Al Faisal (KSA) Saudi Falcons 110pts 2. Bandar Al Esayi (KSA) Saudi GT Racing 102pts

3. Stephane Lemeret (BEL) Al Nabooda Racing 86pts

4. Ahmad Al Harthy (OM) Oman Air Racing 80pts

5. Saeed Al Mouri (KSA) Saudi Falcons 72pts

6. Saddon Al Kuwari (QA) 51pts

7. Clemens Schmid (AUT) 50pts

8. Hans Guido Riegel (GER) Haribo Racing 39pts

8. Armin Schmid (CH) Team TCE 39pts

10. Fawaz Al Gosaibi (KSA) Saudi GT Racing 30pts

10. Hannes Waimer (GER) Team TCE 30pts