Al Faisal returns to Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East series along with Khalid Al Wahaibi
MUSCAT: Season 9 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East is poised to be the most international in the history of the series with nine different nations to feature on a highly competitive grid when the championship starts in Bahrain on November 17.
Such is the global reputation and growing appeal of the highly successful one-make series, Season 9 will see new drivers from as far as South Africa and Great Britain descend to make their debuts in the championship.
Returning to the championship after his outstanding debut in Season 8, Al Faisal Al Zubair will be looking to pick up where he left off and continue to impress on the track. His hard work and progression across the 12 races led him to win both the Porsche GCC Rookie and the Bronze category last season.
Due to his success, he went on to compete in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, gaining international racing experience over the summer months.
Al Zubair will be turning his attention back to the Middle East where he hopes to achieve bigger and better things in his second season of the competition.
Also representing Oman is another young rising star, Khalid Al Wahaibi. After rising through the ranks of professional Go Karting and impressing in the Formula 4 South East Asia Championship last year, Al Wahaibi joins the grid for Season 9. He and Al Zubair will be among a number of young, talented drivers set to take on international racers on home soil.
Season 9 will include drivers hailing from Germany, Great Brit- ain, Netherlands, Sweden as well as returning and new local stars from the Middle East region representing Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
As well as new drivers, the new season also makes the much anticipated introduction of the brand new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup to the region for the first time. The latest edition of the world’s best-selling race car features a four-litre, sixcylinder flat engine with direct fuel injection, delivering 485 hp and the expectation of quicker lap times than ever before.
All drivers, including local favourites Al Faisal al Zubair of Oman, Saudi Arabia’s Fahad Al Gosaibi and Qatar’s Charlie Frijns, are due to complete pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit on November 11 and 12.
The strength and depth of the series is proven by confirmation that an international grid of 17 cars will feature for the opening race in Bahrain on November 17 as a support race to the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Speaking ahead of testing, Oman’s Al Faisal Al Zubair said: “I am very excited to be returning to championship. This year there will be added pressure, as my first season was all about learning and getting used to the car. The results were better than expected and I was really pleased overall. However, coming back to the Middle East after a full season of Supercup experience, I feel I am much more prepared.
“It is going to be a tough championship, I have heard a few quick drivers have confirmed, so the battle for the overall title will be strong. I feel I have matured as a driver over the summer and continued to learn a lot. I will be coming back for more wins in Season 9 and I cannot wait to get back on the tracks of the Middle East.” Full story @ timesofoman.com/sports