Dubai: Denmark’s Christina Nielsen has her sights set on a podium finish at the second round of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East at Dubai Autodrome this weekend.
The first female driver to compete in the region’s premier race series returns to the UAE with high hopes of success in her second attempt at the championship following a strong showing in the second race in the opening round of the season in Bahrain.
Nielsen failed to finish the first race, but bounced back in race two with a sixth place finish after starting ninth. Speaking ahead of races three and four in Dubai on Thursday and Friday, she said: “The opening races in Bahrain once again showed me the beauty of the highs and lows of motorsport. The opening race couldn’t have gone much worse.
“But as a driver you can only leave the frustration behind you and look forward to the next opportunity, to put it right on the track, and that’s what I did in the second race. It wasn’t perfect and I can be even quicker.”
The GT3 Cup races are only part of a busy weekend at Dubai Autodrome, which includes the Color Run on Saturday morning, when more than 8,000 runners are expected to descend on the venue. Also on the cards are rounds of the UAE Sportbike Championship, NGK Racing Series and the Radical Cup Middle East.
Action on the International Circuit configuration starts on Thursday, with free practice between 9am and 12pm for cars. The first Porsche GT3 Cup qualifying session is at 2.20pm, with the first 14-lap race scheduled for 4.50pm. The first of two back-to-back Radical Middle East Cup qualifying sessions starts at 3.20pm.
Friday kicks off with UAE Sportbikes qualifying at 9.45am, followed by race one of the Radical Middle East Cup, which is set to be flagged off at 10.20am, with the first UAE Sportbikes race at 11.20am. NGK Racing Series qualifying starts at 11.10am, with race one at 1.55pm and race two at 4.05pm.
Race two qualifying for Porsche GT3 Cup is at 11.40am, with the second race of the event set to get under way at 4.45pm. Also on the day, shortly after noon, will be an on-track parade by members of the Porsche Owners Club.
On Saturday, a huge contingent of runners will take to the track as part of the first ever Color Run in the UAE, presented by Activelife. The event is a 5km fun run that brings together participants who will run through showers of coloured powder in a celebration of health and happiness.
The non-competitive, untimed event is an initiative by the National Health Insurance Company, Daman, organised by IMG.
Participants are expected to arrive at the venue shortly after dawn, with the start earmarked for 9am on the Dubai Autodrome main straight.
Spectators are welcome throughout the three days of activities and attendance is free, with access to the main grandstand and the paddock area.
