Times of Oman

Al Faisal ready for Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup debut

-

MUSCAT: Just three weeks since wrapping-up a phenomenal double title success during the final event of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East season, Omani racer Al Faisal Al Zubair is now only days away from opening the next chapter of his career – graduation into the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

Following last week’s official launch of the brand new FZ Racing team, with whom the 19-yearold from Muscat will contest his maiden season in the FIA Formula One World Championsh­ip supporting Supercup, Al Faisal is absolutely relishing the most intense challenge of his career to date.

Rounds one and two of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup will take place next weekend on May 13th and 14 at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain, where Al Faisal and FZ Racing are targeting a smooth, consistent start to the ultra-competitiv­e championsh­ip.

“This is such a huge step for me but I’m ready and I can’t wait to hit the track in Barcelona,” said the excited Omani. “My first season in Porsche in the Middle East championsh­ip was truly amazing, I can’t thank everyone enough for their help and support, and I really feel my driving and my pace developed hugely.

“Translatin­g that to the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup will be a major challenge, but I’m confident I will have a great car and I’m focused on learning as much as possible as quickly as possible. There are lots of circuits to learn and the competitio­n is going to be like nothing I have experience­d before. It’s an amazing opportunit­y though and I’m very grateful to my family and sponsors for their support.”

Without any shadow of a doubt, Al Faisal has already made a big impression during his first year of Porsche racing having produced some truly spectacula­r performanc­es during the recently concluded Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.

As well as winning the GCC Rookie Class and Silver Class titles, an outstandin­g feat in his maiden year away from singleseat­er racing, the teenager – who is proudly supported by Red Bull Oman – also made headlines by winning his first outright race during the season finale in Bahrain.

Notably, that victory came as part of the Bahrain Grand Prix F1 weekend so Al Faisal is already more than familiar with life on the Formula One support package. Preparing to compete against some of the best drivers in the world next weekend in his FZ Racing prepared Porsche, which is engineered by renowned squad Lechner Racing, the Omani is thrilled to be part of Porsche’s flagship championsh­ip.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Oman