Al Qubaisi, who will be behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 RSR for ADR-Proton Competition
Abu Dhabi, September 17, 2014 – Proton Competition, the Emirates Global Aluminium and Abu Dhabi Racing-backed team, driver Khaled Al Qubaisi is relishing the challenge of driving into untested terrain when he tackles the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in the 6 Hours of the Circuit of the Americas at Austin in Texas, the US, later this month.
To be held from September 18-20, the Circuit of the Americas is considered to be one of the most challenging of endurances of the series, apart from the 24 Hours of Le Mans where Al Qubaisi and team finished second overall in class LMGTE Am.
But the bigger challenge for Al Qubaisi is the fact that though he has experience of racing on numerous circuits worldwide, the Abu Dhabi native has never raced on the Austin track; but the Abu Dhabi Racing driver is nevertheless undaunted.
Al Qubaisi, who will be behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 RSR, said: “In fact I do not know a lot about the circuit [in Austin], I’ve never been there before but I am practicing through simulation system for as long as possible. But of course testing on the track is something totally different. I believe that the task will not be easy over there.”
The first two free practices take place on September 18, followed by a third free practice on September 19 along with qualifying later in the day. This should give Al Qubaisi sufficient time to get to grips with the circuit.
Al Qubaisi is currently ranked third in the teams’ standings along with team-mates German Christian Ried and Austrian Klaus Bachler, the trio just four points shy of their second-placed rivals in the championship.
The Abu Dhabi resident added: “We always aim for the top results, but winning one of the next rounds will be difficult, especially with the presence of great teams such as Aston Martin and Ferrari, who enjoy an advantage in terms of top speed; but we will do our best.”
