Abu Dhabi: The stage is set for an intriguing start to the 2011-12 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East at Dubai Autodrome this weekend after two frenetic days of pre-season testing at Yas Marina Circuit.
Saudi Arabia's Prince Abdul Aziz Al Faisal, who is looking to capture the drivers' title for the second time in three years, underlined his credentials once more as he took his brand new 2012 Porsche GT3 Cup into action for the first time in Abu Dhabi.
After warm-up sessions, Abdul Aziz was fastest in testing yesterday with a lap time of 2:15.098, just ahead of fellow Saudi Bandar Alesayi, 2:15.533, Belgian driver Stephane Lemeret, 2:16.191, Omani Ahmad Al Harthy, 2:16.203, and Saudi Saeed Al Mouri, 2:18.050.
Making his first appearance in the one-only Porsche series, Al Harthy is seen as a serious title contender following two impressive seasons in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship which brought him a succession of podium finishes.
Meanwhile, after recording his first GT3 Cup victory last season on his way to fourth place overall, Alesayi made it clear he has now set his sights much higher.
"This is my third season in the GT3 Cup Challenge, I'm feeling good and my target is to win the title," he said as official testing drew to a close at Yas Marina Circuit.
To underline that point, he was fastest in the afternoon session on Wednesday in 2:14.331, ahead of Prince Abdul Aziz, 2:14.615, Al Harthy, 2:14.766, German driver Hans Guido Riegel, 2:15.210 and Al Mouri 2:17.537.
Curtain raiser
After the season curtain raiser in Dubai, the drivers return to the UAE capital for Rounds 3-4 which are part of the official race support programme for the 2011 Formula 1TM Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 12-13.
