Al Faisal, Soucek aim to defend GT Open lead in Hungary

On a personal level, the Hungaroring is a track that I am strong at. Hopefully we come out with a good points’ haul at the end.

AL FAISAL AL ZUBAIR, Omani race driver

HUNGARORING, Hungary: Oman’s Al Faisal al Zubair and Spanish team-mate Andy Soucek head to the Hungaroring this weekend determined to defend a one-point lead in the 2021 International GT Open Championship after two rounds.

After securing a win and a third place at the most recent round in Belgium, the Lechner Racing Team Porsche 911 GT3

R crew have amassed 43 points and take a single-point advantage over the Vincenzo Sospiri Racing Lamborghini crew of Frederick Schandorff/michele Beretta into the weekend’s action in Hungary.

The Spa success in Belgium marked the first outright win for a Porsche in the GT Open series in almost five years. Kevin Estre and Peter Terting were the last crew to grace the top step of the podium with the Stuttgart brand in Barcelona at the end of the 2016 season.

“Very excited for the Hungaroring now that we have the championship lead by one point,” said Al Zubair. “I think going by the championship and our philosophy, this will not change anything from our side to be honest.

“I think the team is prepared now. We are working better together. On a personal level, the Hungaroring is a track that I am strong at. It’s a track that Andy likes as well and one where the Porsche will be strong. Hopefully we come out with a good points’ haul at the end.”

Al Zubair and Soucek have joined forces with Lechner Racing after achieving their own successes in circuit racing. Two of the highlights of the young Omani’s career so far were his two Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East titles, while Soucek was the 2009 FIA Formula Two champion and has achieved more recent success in the Blancpain GT and GTWC America series’.

Two free GT Open practice sessions are scheduled for Friday (July 9) and then teams will take part in a 30-minute qualifying session from 10.15hrs (CET) on Saturday.

The 70-minute opening race takes centre stage from 15.10hrs.

Qualifying for race two is scheduled from 09.00hrs on Sunday and precedes the one-hour second race, starting at 13.00hrs.

2021 INTERNATIONAL GT OPEN — OVERALL STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 2:

1. Andy Soucek (ESP)/AL Faisal al

Zubair (OMN) 43 pts 2. Frederick Schandorff (SUI)/

Michele Beretta (ITA) 42 pts 3. Baptiste Moulin (BEL/YUKI

Nemoto (JPN) 36 pts 4. Ollie Millroy (Gbr)/brendan Iribe

(USA) 29 pts 5. Jordan Pepper (ZAF)/IVAN Peklin

(UKR) 21 pts