Doha: Al Nabooda Racing’s Clemens Schmid led from start to finish in Race 1 of Round 3 in the region’s most competitive racing series, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, at Losail International Circuit in Qatar yesterday extending his lead at the top of the Drivers’ Standings.
Finishing second in the race was Saeed Al Mehairi of Skydive Dubai Falcons, defending champion Zaid Ashkanani was third with Qatari resident Charlie Frijns taking fourth position to the delight of his home fans in the stands.
In a change of timing, Race 1 of Round 3 took place during daylight hours with the drivers usually competing under the floodlights.
The earlier start certainly didn’t mean any less drama as the region’s top drivers took to the track in search of points and silverware.
After a sensational start in which he rocketed off the line, Schmid was out of reach of nearly all his nearest competitors for the entire race securing maximum points for the UAE-based driver which sees him move further ahead of his closest championship rival, Kuwait’s Ashkanani.
It was a composed and near-perfect drive from the former champion who goes into Race 2 of Round 3 as firm favourite after showing his dominance at Losail.
Speaking after Race 1 of Round 3 Schmid said: “I had a brilliant start and the guys behind me were fighting really hard for their positions so I immediately got away,” he said.
After starting third on the grid the rapidly emerging talent of Al Mehairi from the UAE’s Skydive Dubai Falcons once again proved he’s a forced to be reckoned with and followed up his strong finishes in Round 2 in Dubai by finishing second.
From the moment the starting lights went out Schmid’s acceleration was exceptional as he stormed to the front of the pack while Ashkanani struggled from second.
Al Mehairi and Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum both started with Al Mehairi up one place and Al Maktoum up two.
After a poor first lap Ashkanani found himself down in fourth place behind the Skydive Dubai duo with Frijns also vying for position. As the group came down the straight for lap two they were four abreast with pedals on the floor giving the team managers an anxious moment as they reached the first turn.
As the drivers settled into their rhythm it was Al Mehairi who staked his claim for second with Ashkanani third, Sheikh Hasher fourth and Frijns fifth.
Down the pack Ahmad Al Harthy suffered the misfortune of running wide at the double right hander which cost him two valuable places.
The slip also meant his collected a fair amount of gravel on the tyres and underside which left him struggling to mount a challenge from ninth.
Capitalising on Al Harthy’s bad luck Raed Raffii was quick to pounce and moved up to seventh were he stayed neat and tight to close the gap on sixth but was ultimately unable to improve on his position as Al Harthy managed to make up a place and secure eighth.
As the race reached its closing stages Frijns finally managed to take his chance and make the most of a rare Al Maktoum mistake to take fourth.
The region’s leading drivers will line-up in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup again as the star attractions at Losail International Circuit for Race 2 of Round 3 today.
THE PENINSULA
