Schmid (middle) celebrates on the podium with Alesayi and Abdulaziz right

Bahrain.  Austrian Clemens Schmid scored a convincing victory in the 12th and final round of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East today while Qatar’s Saadon Al Kuwari celebrated a title success at Bahrain International Circuit.

Schmid won by ten seconds from Bandar Alesayi who edged out newly-crowned champion and fellow-Saudi Abdulaziz Al Faisal as they fought out a gripping duel for second place.

Clemens Schmid ahead from the start in the final round of the Porsche GT3 Cup series at Bahrain International Circuit.

UAE driver Musaed Al Murar finished fourth, just ahead of veteran Al Kuwari who secured the Michelin Silver Trophy after dominating the intermediate class this season.

After clinching pole position for the ninth time in 12 rounds, Schmid was never troubled as he notched up his sixth victory of the 2011-12 campaign to secure third place overall.

Al Kuwari celebrates with the Michelin Silver Trophy on the podium.

Alesayi made sure of finishing runner-up to Abdulaziz in the Porsche GT3 Cup series as he swept past the two-times champion on the seventh of 12 laps. The UAE’s Karim Al Azhari failed to finish after a collision with Swiss driver Armin Schmid.

Finishing ninth overall on the day, German driver Hannes Waimer secured the Mobil 1 Trophy after topping the bronze class.

Round 12 results

1. Clemens Schmid (AUT)                                                     25:24.428

2. Bandar Alesayi (KSA) Saudi GT Racing                            25:34.452

3. Abdulaziz Al Faisal (KSA) Saudi Falcons                           25:43.582

4. Musaed Al Murar (UAE)                                                     25:57:634

5. Saadon Al Kuwari (QAT) Gerbhard Motor Sport ME        26:04.849

6. Manfred Ender (AUT) Fins Structural Steel                       26:05.651

7. Cengiz J. Oguzhan (TUR)                                                  26:06:029

8. Fawaz Algosaibi (KSA) ClassicArabia Racing                   26:10:138

9. Rob Frijns (NL) Frins Structural Steel                                26:14.184

10. Hannes Waimer (GER) Team TCE                                 26:14.452

Final championship positions

1. Abdulaziz Al Faisal (KSA) Saudi Falcons               211pts

2. Bandar Alesayi (KSA) Saudi GT Racing                180pts

3. Clemens Schmid (AUT)                                         166pts

4. Saeed Al Mouri (KSA) Saudi Falcons                    140pts

5. Saadon Al Kuwari (QA)                                          108pts

6. Ahmad Al Harthy (OM) Oman Air Racing                         106pts

7. Stephane Lemeret (BEL) Al Nabooda Racing       86pts

8. Armin Schmid CH Team TCE                               81pts

9. Hannes Waimer (GER) Team TCE                       61pts

10. Karim Al Azhari (UAE) Al Nabooda Racing         59pts

 

Michelin Silver Trophy

1. Saadon Al Kuwari (QA)                                          108pts

2. Armin Schmid (CH) Team TCE                             81pts

3. Hans Guido Riegel (GER) Haribo Racing              39pts

4. Mark Thomas (CAN)                                              27pts

 

Mobil 1 Trophy

 

1. Hannes Waimer (GER)                                          61pts

2. Manfred Ender (AUT) Frins Structural Steel          52pts

3. Rob Frijns (NL) Frins Structural Steel                    47pts

4. Fawaz Algosaibi (KSA) ClassicArabia Racing       43pts