Qatar based Charlie Frijns ready to fight for podium in Dubai this weekend at Round 5 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East

Preparations for the penultimate round of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East got underway today in blistering fashion as drivers returned to the Dubai Autodrome for practice ahead of a third back-to-back UAE race weekend. Round 5 races into action on February 19 before returning to Bahrain for the series finale in just two weeks with everything to play for in the business end of the season.

 For Qatar based Charlie Frijns, the Dubai Autodrome has played host to some of his best performances this season and this weekend he’ll be hoping for a repeat of the form he showed here earlier this month as the fastest qualifier for Race 2 Round 4. Another strong performance from Frijns this weekend in Dubai would be an opportunity to gain crucial points towards a strong finish for season 7, for a driver who still has a top three finish firmly in his sights.

 Speaking ahead of Round 5 at the Dubai Autodrome, Charlie Frijns said: “It is great to be back here in Dubai. I was the first car out on the track this morning and it was quite sandy from the rain yesterday however the track cleared now and it was perfect conditions for practice. I think I have a good chance to get out in front again this weekend. The last race here I had poll position and finished second so I will be out there fighting for the podium again.”

 “I am really trying to get as close as I can to finish in the top three for the championship. My first race of the season is still playing on my mind, as I left the race with no points and if that race had been different I could have been a lot closer to the top now. The next two rounds are very important for me and I will be looking for the best result possible,” he added.

 The penultimate round of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East takes place at Dubai Autodrome starting on Friday, 19^th February with all fans welcome. Widely favoured as one of the most challenging and exciting racing tracks in the Middle East, the autodrome’s 5.39KM Grand Prix Circuit will host a crucial showdown as region’s leading drivers line-up in the Porsche 911 GT3 for a day of pure racing action and intense rivalries throughout the field. 

 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. Whilst 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.

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Team Championship Standings