Abu Dhabi: Driver Khalid Al Qubaisi of Proton Competition — the Emirates Global Aluminium and Abu Dhabi Racing-backed team — is relishing the challenge of tackling untested terrain when he competes in the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in the 6 Hours of the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, this weekend.
The Circuit of the Americas event, being held from today until Saturday, is considered to be one of the most challenging races in the series.
Al Qubaisi and his team finished second in the LMGTE Am class at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, but the challenge facing him now is that the Abu Dhabi native has never raced on the US track.
Al Qubaisi, who will be behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 RSR, said: “I do not know a lot about the circuit [in Austin], I’ve never been there before but I am practising through a simulation system for as long as possible. But of course testing on the track is something totally different. I believe that the task will not be easy over there.
“We always aim for top results, but winning one of the next rounds will be difficult, especially with the presence of great teams such as Aston Martin and Ferrari, who enjoy an advantage in terms of top speed. But we will do our best.”
The first two free practices take place on Thursday, followed by a third free practice on Friday and qualifying later that day.
Al Qubaisi and teammates Christian Ried and Klaus Bachler are currently ranked third in the teams’ standings, just four points shy of their second-placed rivals.
