Dubai Autodrome plays host as drivers prepare for the penultimate round of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East this weekend

The countdown is on to the penultimate round of Season 7 as the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East prepares to return to the Dubai Autodrome for the second showdown of February. Round 5 will be the conclusion of a three leg thriller in the UAE, beginning at Yas Marina Circuit in the capital in January and moving to Dubai just over a fortnight ago, the drivers will face off again in Dubai this weekend before the series finale in Bahrain early next month.

Qatar based driver Charlie Frijns will be looking to capitalise on his recent form in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East this weekend with the young driver enjoying podium finishes in his last three outings for Team Frijns Structural Steel ME. Frijns showed his driving quality and pace once again in Round 4 at Dubai Autodrome by finishing in third place in Race 1, and after setting the quickest time in qualifying to start Race 2 from pole position, managed to secure a strong second place finish which closes the gap on fourth placed Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz AlFaisal to only six points in the overall driver’s standings.

The Qatar resident didn’t have the best start to Season 7 and found himself unlucky with technical issues in some of the previous rounds. However, Frijns seems to have found his form in the last couple of rounds and will be hoping to take his confidence into the final two rounds of the season, closing the gap on Abdulaziz AlFaisal and pushing for a spot in the top three.

Speaking ahead of Round 5 Charlie Frijns knows the importance of getting things right on the track and that he can’t afford any slip ups on the road back to Bahrain:  “It’s been a challenging season for me so far, and the competition is definitely fierce out there on the track. There are lot of factors that play a part in being successful, and thankfully I have a great team to help me put things right and build on areas that I need to develop. I have felt really good in the last few rounds and it feels like things are coming together, I have had some strong performances here in the UAE and definitely started 2016 as I mean to go on. The next round is the most important for me as it sets up the final round in Bahrain, I will be aiming to qualify strongly ahead of each race to give myself the best chance of getting to that podium again.”

As Season 7 of the region’s leading one-make series enters its final stages, the provision of a platform for local racing talent to take developing steps in their careers has once again been a hallmark of the series. As Zaid Ashkanani has affirmed his status as one of the Middle East’s most promising and most talented young drivers, new racers such as Saudi Arabia’s Saud AlFaisal and Qatar-based Charlie Frijns have been shining in a series that offers a pathway to global motor racing.

Promoter and Head of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, Walter Lechner explained how vital this stage of the season is for the developing stars and reflected on the series so far: “It is always exciting when we reach this stage of the championship. The competition has been incredibly tight this season, as competitive as we have ever seen it. We have had some incredibly talented racers involved and, across the season, I believe we have uncovered a few more. That is the thrill and excitement for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East; discovering new talent and nurturing it, and as a unique offering in the Middle East that is what we will continue to do. We are always on the lookout for new racing drivers who have the natural gifts, but more importantly the attitude and commitment to want to improve. By developing them in our professional racing environment, the Middle East can continue to build on its legacy for motor racing”.

With Round 5 taking place in Dubai this weekend motorsport fans in the UAE can witness back to back rounds of high octane action with one of the most competitive grids assembled in the series so far. Both races of the penultimate round will take place in on Friday, 19^th February with all fans welcome.

Overall Championship Standings

Team Championship Standings