Dubai: Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East organisers Lechner Racing have confirmed that drivers from the regional racing series will support the 2014 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, taking place this weekend, with Skydive Dubai Falcons set to join an elite grid.
A Dubai-based duo of Saeed Al Mehairi and Khalid Al Mutawaa will feature as part of the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Bahrain Grand Prix lining-up on a strong grid of 17 Porsche drivers including the reigning Porsche champion, Zaid Ashkanani of Kuwait, Bahrain’s past Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East champion Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa and a host of home-grown emerging talent and racing veterans.
Al Mutawaa, who has been coaching the Skydive Dubai Falcons team throughout season five of the series, will step into the seat of the impressive Shaikh Hasher Al Maktoum who is not available to participate over the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend.
Drivers spanning eight nations comprising of host nation Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait are preparing to enjoy the experience of a lifetime. Each driver will race twice across the weekend over the 5.4-km circuit at Sakhir in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
The announcement is a huge boost for local motorsport with some of the best regional drivers given a rare opportunity to showcase their talents on the biggest stage of all, while sharing the occasion with the current stars of Formula One.
It is only the third time in the history of the series in the Middle East that local Porsche drivers will support an official Formula One race weekend. Two races over 10 laps have been confirmed by the organisers. Adding to the interest of regional fans, Race One starts at 16:30pm on Saturday (April 5) followed by Race Two on Sunday (April 6) again at the same time and immediately before the showpiece Formula One race.
