Sheikh Salman can’t wait for the start of the new Porsche GT3 Cup season in Abu Dhabi this weekend
Bahrain. Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman Bin Rashid Al Khalifa has set his sights firmly on a title triumph in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, which launches its 2010-11 season this weekend alongside the deciding round of the Formula One World Championship in Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Salman grabbed pole position for seven of 12 rounds last season but managed only one race victory as Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal dominated the new one-make series.
Sheikh Salman (front) in action
Looking ahead to the start of the new campaign in the UAE capital, the 2009-10 championship runner-up said: “After last season I’m focused on winning. I’ve prepared well, I’m in very good shape and I can’t wait for the new season to start.”
The first two rounds of the new season on Saturday and Sunday are the official support races for the 2010 Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit.
Sheikh Salman earned a place in the record books there 12 months ago when his victory in the Supercars Middle East Championship made him the first ever race winner at the venue.
Sheikh Salman and the rest of the 16-driver line-up will be at the wheel of the brand new 450 horsepower 2011 911 GT3 Cup car which will be making its first competitive appearance anywhere in the world in Abu Dhabi.
If he can make a solid start in the UAE he will certainly fancy his chances when the series moves on to his home track at Bahrain International Circuit for rounds Rounds 3 and 4 on December 2-3, with Rounds 7 and 8 to follow there on 18-19 February.
Walter Lechner, the former racing star now driving the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East as head of Austrian-based Lechner Racing, has again set up his organisation’s base at Bahrain International Circuit.
Looking at the season’s start this weekend Lechner said: “I used to drive Porsche cars at Le Mans, but I’m just as excited to be part of this championship as a manager. And I have to admit I was a little jealous of the drivers when they went out in their new cars for the first time last week during pre-season testing in Dubai.
In addition to action in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, the 2010-11 series, which is sponsored by Michelin and Mobil 1, also takes in Reem International Circuit outside Riyadh, where it made history last season as the first international circuit race event ever staged in the Kingdom.
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East 2010-2011 race calendar
Rounds 1 and 2
13-14 November 2010 Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Rounds 3 and 4
2-3 December 2010 Bahrain International Circuit, Manama, Bahrain
Rounds 5 and 6
19-20 January 2011 Reem International Circuit, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Rounds 7 and 8
18-19 February 2011 Bahrain International Circuit, Manama, Bahrain
Rounds 9 and 10
TBC TBC
Rounds 11 and 12
8-9 April 2011 Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
