Action aplenty at GT3

Manama : After two back-to-back rounds of thrilling racing action in Dubai, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East heads to the UAE capital for Round 4, marking the halfway stage of an already exhilarating Season 8 campaign.

The last round in the UAE and the fourth overall in the championship, Abu Dhabi fans will see pivotal points raced for this weekend before the drivers head back to Bahrain for the final two rounds of the season. With each category title chase wide open, and a total of only 48 points separating the top six drivers in the overall standings, strong performance in both races of Round 4 could result in more movement between positions for any driver.

The Yas Marina Circuit which hosts the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix each year, will now act as the perfect stage to inspire the drivers of the region’s most competitive racing series. For the first time in the championship’s history, drivers will be racing the full Grand Prix configuration of the track comprising of 21 turns over a distance of 5.54 km.

Team Bahrain drivers Shaikh Isa Salman Al Khalifa and Shaikh Isa Abdulla Al Khalifa will be hoping to continue the strong form they have shown in the first half of the season this weekend in Abu Dhabi.

The teenage drivers will be experiencing the F1 circuit for the first time, however being unfamiliar with the track in Dubai didn’t stop the duo from collecting some very valuable points. Isa Salman currently sits in eighth position in the overall drivers’ standings, and leads the Bronze category standings by five points, an incredible feat for a young driver with very little racing experience of this kind.

Isa Salman said, “I am excited to drive at Yas Marina Circuit this weekend. I have been to the track before to watch the F1 and I’ve always wanted to race there. The progress I have made this season in the championship has been so rewarding and I am leading my category after three rounds. This weekend I will be hoping to learn the track as quick as possible, get the speed right in the car and set some strong qualifying times ahead of both races.”

Teammate Isa Abdulla has impressed in the first half of Season 8 and will continue to push for the best result possible come the end of the season. Currently sitting third in the Porsche GCC Rookie Championship Isa A. Al Khalifa knows that this weekend could be pivotal in how he places himself going into the final two rounds.

Isa Abdulla said, “This weekend will be an important one for me. I want to try and push for a strong result in both my categories and put myself in a good position for the remaining rounds. I have learnt so much this season already and really developed my driving ability and focusing on finishing in the best position possible in both races.”

Championship leader Ryan Cullen (140 points) extended his lead at the top of the standings to 17 points after back-to-back wins at the Dubai Autodrome in Round 3 ahead of Charlie Frijns (123), with UK driver Tom Oliphant (112) in third position. 

A maximum of 50 points are on offer over the two races in Round 4. The Silver and Bronze categories are just a close with only 26 points separating the top three drivers in Silver, and a mere 13 points separating the top three in Bronze.

First race action at Yas Marina on Friday is at 6pm under lights and the second race on Saturday at 3.15pm.