Al Faisal finishes 12th to claim crucial points
Muscat - Oman’s Al Faisal al Zubair continued his rapid rise through the rookie ranks in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup with a solid 12th position and another handful of points in the sixth round of the series at the Hungaroring Formula One circuit in Mogyorod, Hungary, on Sunday.
The Lechner Racing Middle East team driver started the race in 12th place and then had to make his way back from 14th position to eventually reach the chequered flag in his pole-starting position.
Victory on the 4.381km circuit went to Germany’s Michael Ammermüller, who extended his series lead with a fourth maximum points’ haul of the season. Dennis Olsen passed Dan Cammish to claim second.
Al Faisal was later told that he scored points for 11th spot, as a driver ahead was not registered for the series. It was yet another superb effort from Al Faisal, who is making his debut in the Supercup season.
“I made a good start but then, in turn two, one of the drivers hit me and I dropped a few positions and had to come back to finish in P12,” said FZ Racing’s Al Faisal.
“Maybe some other drivers could get penalties, but I was happy with the way it went.”
Cammish started strongly and managed to pass Ammermüller to take the lead, with Robert Lukas in third and Olsen in fourth. Al Faisal held 14th through lap three after his earlier collision, but Chris Bauer, Tom Sharp and Sean Hudspeth stopped and Ryan Cullen retired.
Olsen managed to pass Lukas and snatch third place and the leading group held station into lap six with Al Faisal slotted into 14th.
Ammermüller managed to regain the advantage from Cammish heading into lap eight, as Olsen and Lukas followed and Al Faisal retained 14th place.
Zaid Ashkanani retired after a collision at turn two and Al Faisal climbed to 13th. In the front, Cammish started to feel the pressure from Olsen for second place.
By lap 12, the Omani teenager had managed to climb another position to hold 12th and then got ahead of Thomas Preining to snatch 11th.
Ammermüller held on to claim his fourth win of the season and increase his championship lead, as Olsen and Cammish finished second and third. Preining regained his 11th position to push Al Faisal to 12th on the penultimate lap.
The next round resumes at Spa in Belgium on August 25-27 with test session ahead of the race in Monza, Italy.