Double delight for Schmid

After securing his second pole position in two days, the 22-year-old Austrian collected maximum points, despite the best efforts of Bahrain’s Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa, who finished second and Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz AlFaisal in third.

Following his victory by 8.133 seconds Schmid said: “It has been a perfect week for me and Al Nabooda to get maximum points from both rounds. In the next race rounds at Yas Marina Abu Dhabi we have to keep the same strategy to continue on our winning ways. Yas is one of my favourite circuits, so I am confident I can repeat my performances.”

Action peaks up during the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

Schmid dominated from start to finish maintaining first position throughout, without being seriously threatened. He managed take his overall lead in the championship to six points over AlFaisal, by collecting two wins and forty points on the opening weekend.

In the fight for second position between the two former champions, the first corner proved crucial. Al Khalifa showed all the skill, courage and local knowledge needed to slip past reigning champion AlFaisal, before extending a sizable lead of 10:875 seconds for a comfortable finish.

Second placed Al Khalifa, who only returned to racing following a year absence said: “It is an amazing feeling getting onto the podium. I am very happy with my race. First position would have been great but Clemens produced a faultless race.”

Third placed AlFaisal looked back at Round 2 commenting: “Clemens was simply better than me over the weekend and Salman produced a good performance to finish in second.

“We will have to look at our strategy for Yas, but I have a good record there and I am confident things will improve.”

Season 4 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East continues in the UAE with Rounds 3 and 4 scheduled to take place at Yas Marina Circuit on December 7 and 8.

Results


Round 2 of the Porsche GT3 Cup

> 1. Clemens Schmid (Al Nabooda Racing) 22:21.227

> 2. Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa (Team Bahrain) 22:29.360

> 3. AbdulAziz AlFaisal (Saudi Falcons) 22:40.235

> 4. Karim Al Azhari (Al Nabooda Racing) 22:43.565

> 5 Faisal Binladen (Saudi Falcons) 22:55.207

> 6. Zaid Ashkanani (Team BUzaidGT) 22:55.608

> 7. Mohammed Matar (Team Bahrain) 22:57.205