A dream come true for Isa Salman

Manama : This weekend Bahraini driver Isa Salman Al Khalifa will fulfil a lifelong dream by racing in the final round of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, which features as an official support race to the 2017 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

To race on the biggest stage of all for motorsport in the region is the ultimate goal for any driver and the staging of the final sixth round at the Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, is the perfect ending to an incredibly competitive and exhausting season for all Porsche drivers.

The outcome of the driver’s championship in all categories of the region’s most professional motor-racing series will all come down to the last two races on Saturday and Sunday and will now play out in front of mass crowds and a global spotlight.

A full grid of 16 drivers from 11 nationalities will be in the fray and Shaikh Isa Salman has set himself the target of finishing as high as possible in the Bronze category and in the overall championship standings.

With 50 points on offer over the two remaining races, Shaikh Isa Salman will be hoping to claim enough of these points to help him achieve his dream of taking home silverware in his debut season in the championship.

Looking ahead to Round 6, he said, “This season has been a career changing experience for me. After this round, I can proudly say that I will have completed a season in a professional racing series, and this is huge for my personal growth and development in the sport.

Regardless of the outcome over the next two races, I have achieved so much already this season, and to be competing as part of the Formula 1 Grand Prix in my home country of Bahrain is a dream come true!” 

A total of 43 points separate four out of the seven drivers in the Bronze category, with Shaikh Isa Salman only 17 points away from first place, and the chance to win the Bronze category championship.

Leading the standings are Ryan Cullen of Ireland (238) and Qatar based driver Charlie Frijns (205) and any driver from third to sixth place can still mathematically being able to finish in the top three.