Challenging Monza circuit awaits Al Faisal
MONZA, Italy: Oman’s Al Faisal al Zubair will be hoping to put the disappointment of his recent Spa performance firmly to the back of his mind when the Porsche Mobil 1 Super Cup heads to Italy this weekend (September 1-3) for the ninth round of the series at the world famous Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
After making rapid progress in recent weeks, the Lechner Racing Middle East driver suffered a disappointing finish in race one at Spa in Belgium last Saturday and a retirement from the second race on Sunday morning. But the Omani has had no time to dwell on a weekend that could have offered so much more.
“I am very excited to go and race in Monza this weekend,” said FZ Racing’s Al Faisal. “It will be my first time there at such a legendary circuit with so much motor sporting heritage. It comes straight on the back of a difficult race weekend in Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium with incidents.”
“I will be looking to bounce back straight away. I managed to relax a little between the two race weekends. I am fully focused and the goal is to score some good points for the championship.”
German driver Michael Ammermuller saw his lead at the top of the championship standings trimmed from 14 to eight points after back-to-back race wins for Dennis Olsen in Belgium. The Norwegian leads Daniel Cammish by 42 points, as the series looks to have developed into a two-horse contest heading into the final two races in Italy and Mexico. Matt Campbell holds fourth and Robert Lukas in fifth.
Al Zubair slipped from 14th to 19th in the main championship after the Belgian setback and down to ninth in the rookie standings.
The Porsche Mobil 1 Super Cup drivers will experience their first 45-minute practice session on the 5.77km circuit from 16.10hrs on Friday afternoon.
The 30-minute qualifying session fires into life at 11.25hrs on Saturday morning and the ninth round of the series takes centre stage on the Italian circuit from 10.25hrs on Sunday. PORSCHE MOBIL 1 SUPERCUP OVERALL STANDINGS (AFTER ROUND 8): 19. Al Faisal Al Zubair, 14pts Rookie standings (after round 8): 9. Al Faisal Al Zubair, 14pts