Al Nabooda Racing Aim To Boost Porsche Team Title Bid In Dubai

After making a flying start to the season in Bahrain, Clemens Schmid is counting on Ahmad Al Harthy to help him give Al Nabooda Racing the edge when the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East returns to Dubai Autodrome this weekend.

 

Schmid was in brilliant form in the opening race weekend of the season, converting two pole positions into back-to-back race wins last month, and has set his sights on another double success in Dubai.

Making his Al Nabooda Racing debut at Bahrain International Circuit, Al Harthy suffered a first round collision which put him out of the race and led to a penalty that dropped him to the back of the grid 24 hours later.

But he responded with a climb up the field to finish sixth as Al Nabooda Racing moved to joint second in the team championship, and Schmid believes the defending champions can boost their bid for a third successive title this weekend.

“To win the first two races of the season was really great for me, and while Ahmad had some problems in the first race he produced an incredibly good performance in the next round, and in Dubai he will be stronger for sure,” said Schmid.

“He didn’t drive a GT3 Cup car for two years and needs more time to get to know it again. But he’s really focused, pushing hard, and I’m glad to have him as a team-mate.”

Added Schmid: “The Dubai Autodrome is quite a difficult circuit and needs a lot of compromises in the car set up. I like that challenge and I hope to repeat the results from Bahrain.”

“Okay, this is the home circuit for the team, but I don’t feel more pressure than normal. I’m always trying my best and we as a team have a strong lineup and I think we will win the team trophies in Dubai.”

Al Harthy, meanwhile, is putting his difficult start to the season behind him. “Looking back, I think the penalty was harsh, but we just accepted it because it’s in the spirit of the sport to abide by the rules,” he said.

“Now I’m not thinking of Bahrain, I’m just looking forward to Dubai. The Autodrome is a more technical, tighter circuit and I hope it suits us a team. I certainly enjoy technical circuits.

“Competition in the series is definitely tougher now, and this is a very strong championship, but we‘re feeling good. Clemens is a remarkable driver and it’s always important to have a strong team-mate. We’re getting on well and are happy to be here together in Dubai to experience another circuit.

“It’s normal for a team to come under a little more pressure when you’re competing at your home circuit, but once the lights go out and the race begins we don’t think of things like that.”

Al Nabooda Racing team manager Vijay Rao said: “Having won the team title for the last two years we’re definitely the team to beat, and that can create pressure. But Clemens and Ahmad can deal with that and we’re looking forward to the weekend.”

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East – team standings:

1. BuZaid GT / BuCharlie GT (KUW) 84pts

2. Sky Dive Dubai Falcons (UAE) 65

2. Al Nabooda Racing (UAE) 65

4. Team Bahrain (BAH) 57

5. ClassicArabia Racing (KSA) 35

Drivers’ championship standings:

1. Clemens Schmid (UAE) 50pts

2. Zaid Ashkanani (KUW) 44

3. Hasher Al Maktoum (UAE) 42

4. Charlie Frijns (NED) 40

5. Mohammed Mattar (BAH) 29

6. Raed Raffii (BAH) 28

14. Ahmad Al Harthy (OM) 15

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