Schmid seals victory to extend lead at top

Schmid, Fahad and Zaid with their trophies. — Supplied photos

Dubai — Al Nabooda Racing’s Clemens Schmid took the chequered flag in Race 1 of Round 5 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East at the Dubai Autodrome extending his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings while local rivals Skydive Dubai reduced the gap in the team competition.

The drivers took to the track in full knowledge that the Round 5 weekend could be the most critical yet as the penultimate of Season 6. With the slightest margins between every spot in both the drivers’ and teams’ competitions, each race represents a crucial opportunity to gain points in the race to victory.

After qualifying in first position Schmid secured every advantage heading into Race 1 with all the drivers set to battle not only with each other, but with the dusty and windy Dubai Autodrome track. It was a strong start from Schmid who shot off the line and into the lead but had to cope with sustained pressure from his title rival and defending champion Zaid Ashkanani. After a tussle in the early stages Schmid was forced to give up his lead and dropped to third behind Fahad Algosaibi of Classic Arabia Racing and Ashkanani who led. A mistake from the young Kuwaiti saw him drop down to third while Schmid hounded Algosaibi and eventually reclaimed the lead.

The victory sees Schmid extend his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings to ten points with just three races remaining.

“It was a tough fight but it was one of my best races of the series. Congratulations to Fahad because we drove side by side for all of four corners without scraping each other and that’s a credit to his ability and technique as a driver. I’m really pleased because of this as I was able to win such a tough and competitive race. It looked fun but it was a huge challenge and I’m happy to claim the first spot. Perhaps there was an element of luck to because the conditions were so tricky with the dustiness and I feel a little fortunate to have come out unscathed. It’s not the easiest type of weather to excel in,” Schmid said.