Aberdein, Cullen emerge best on eventful day at Dubai Autodrome
dubai — Six championship series were contested on the 4.29 kilometre International Circuit at Dubai Autodrome during the National Race Days (NRD) Power Weekend.
The premiere F4 UAE Championship and renowned Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East returned to Dubai to feature alongside perennial favourites NGK Racing Series, UAE Sportbike Championship, Radical Cup Middle East and Formula Gulf Academy. The new formula series, certified by the FIA and supported by the ATCUAE, has added new drivers and continues to gain momentum in the local motorsport scene.
Championship leader Jonathan Aberdein of Team Motopark came to Dubai seeking to maintain his advantage over team mate Logan Sargeant and hometown hero Sean Babington of Energy Dubai F4 Racing Team. He started well, topping qualifying screens with a best lap time of 1:37.591.
Aberdein then went on to clinch two out of three races, solidifying his command of the championship. Despite a thrilling Race Three contest with Aberdein, Sargeant finished the event with just two podium finishes, while Babington managed to reach the podium once during the weekend. Having found great pace on the Dubai Autodrome International Circuit, Aberdein said, “I really like driving here in Dubai. It’s an awesome track and an awesome place.”
Dutchman Charlie Frijns of team Frijns Structural Steel ME and Irishman Ryan Cullen were level on championship points coming to Dubai, with British driver Tom Oliphant sitting in third. Dylan Pereira of Luxembourg beat all of the top three drivers in Friday qualifying but failed to make pole position count in Race One, dropping down to fourth as Ryan Cullen jumped from second on the grid to take the lead and then held on for the win.
It was a ferocious contest that witnessed almost half of the field, seven cars, not making it to the finish line, including Frijns and Oliphant. Rookie driver Al Faisal AL Zubair survived the scuffle to snag second and Bandar Alesayi claimed third. Charlie Frijns looked to bounce back on Saturday by starting on pole for Race Two, but he dropped to fourth on the opening lap, allowing Ryan Cullen to again take control. Frijns worked his way back up and challenged Cullen for the frontrunner position but ran out of time at the chequered flag. Cullen bagged his second win in a row, while Frijns settled for the next step down on the podium, followed by Tom Oliphant in third.
In the NGK Racing Series, Dragon Racing’s principle Leon Price, driving a Ferrari 488 GT3, cruised home for the overall and Class Three win, 11.061 seconds ahead of the Audi R8 LMS Ultra driven by Marcel Kusin of K& K Racing.
I really like driving here in Dubai. It’s an awesome track Aberdein, championship leader