Saudi champion battles back for GT3 Cup victory

Abu Dhabi: Privileged to be playing the supporting role on one of Formula One's biggest Grand Prix race days, the GT3 drivers thrilled the fans at the Yas Marina Circuit as Saturday's top two drivers reversed their finish positions Sunday.

Saudi Arabia's Prince Abdul Aziz Al Faisal won the second round of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East in emphatic style Sunday hours before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale.

Reversing the top two finishing positions from the previous day, the defending champion cruised to victory by seven seconds from Bahrain's first round winner, Shaikh Salman Bin Rashid Al Khalifa, to go level with him at the top of the 2010-11 championship standings.

After securing his first podium place in the one-make series 24 hours earlier, Abu Dhabi's Khalid Al Qubaisi took third place again to underline the validity of his challenge this season after a summer gaining experience in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in Europe. Bandar Al Esayi grabbed fourth position ahead of Faisal Bin Laden.

Results

• 1. Prince Abdul Aziz Al Faisal (KSA) Al Faisal Racing Team 31:57.556
• 2. Shaikh Salman Bin Rashid Al Khalifa (BAH) 32:04.719
• 3. Khalid Al Qubaisi (UAE) tolimit Arabia 32:06.557
• 4. Bandar Al Esayi (KSA) 32:09.227
• 5. Faisal Bin Laden (KSA) Saudi Falcon Racing 32:22.172
• 6. Musaed Al Murar (UAE) tolimit arabia 32:35.175
• 7. Fahad Al Gosaibi (KSA) ClassicArabia Racing 32:35.247
• 8.Ebrahim Salloum (UAE) Abu Dhabi Falcon Racing 32:53.430
• 9. Oscar Slingerland (NL) Speedlover NL 33:31.514
• 10. Fawaz Al Gosaibi (KSA) ClassicArabia Racing 33:36.796