Ashkanani shines again at Porsche GT3 Cup challenge ME

3/20/2015 6:51:19 AM

(MENAFN- Arab Times) KUWAIT CITY March 1: Kuwait''s Zaid Ashkanani took second in Race 2 of Round 5 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East at the Dubai Autodrome matching his result from the previous day and allowing his title rival Clemens Schmid to build a bigger lead at the top of the Drivers'' Standings. The final results set up a thrilling season finale race weekend at Bahrain International Circuit as the support races for the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix where the team and drivers championships will be decided in front of packed stands at the home of motor racing in the Middle East.

With huge expectations on the penultimate round of the series at the Dubai Autodrome the competition delivered another enthralling weekend of motor racing action featuring the region''s finest drivers. The previous results in Qatar had left it all to play for at the Motorcity track and after a thrilling first race where the lead changed at least four times and the points were spread evenly throughout the field Race 2 was set to play the role as the most important battle of the season so far.

Securing first place in qualifying series leader Clemens Schmid was once again the man to beat setting Ashkanani a difficult challenge to snatch the top sport from his rival. As expected the two top drivers fired out the blocks with Ashkanani forcing Schmid to defend hard as they approached the turn one. In the first lap it appeared that Ashkanani had passed his rival but the UAE resident took back the lead in the infamous ''bowl'' corner. Holding off sustained pressure throughout the race Schmid just had the edge over Ashkanani who now sits twelve points behind in second with just two races remaining.

Speaking after his victory in Race 2 of Round 5 at the Dubai Autodrome Zaid Ashkanani said ''It was a good race for me. I was happy to close the gap on Clemens throughout the race and it was a really tough battle. I know that I was probably a bit too far away from him at one stage but I improved my speed towards the end and nearly caught him but he defended really well when he needed to. The gap is now twelve points going into the last round in Bahrain so there''s everything to play for. I won''t give up till the very last second and cannot wait to get back on the track again especially with such an exciting finish to the season at the F1 weekend.'' Less windy conditions compared with the previous day meant the drivers were able to focus on their pace during Race 2 compared to the day before when fighting the dusty track to stay on-line was hard enough.

As soon as the lights went out Schmid and Ashkanani went toe to toe down to the first corner but solid defensive moves from the series leader allowed him to hold off the assault. Further back Saeed Al Mehairi of the Skydive Dubai Falcons jumped one position and was pushing Classic Arabia''s Bandar Alesayi for fourth after a great start from the Saudi. Lap one saw a flurry of action all across the field with Raed Raffii from Team Bahrain taking eighth from Ahmad Al Harthy as Classic Arabia''s Fahad Algosaibi pressured Zaid Ashkanani from third. Saeed Al Mehairi pushed up another position to pass Alesayi and then his own teammate in a move which officials judged to have happened while he was off the track. Failing to give the position back he incurred a two position penalty at the end of the race. As the race wore on Al Harthy was pushing to secure vital points for his Al Nabooda team and passed Raffii to retake eighth while the front two cars pulled away from the pack and finished with a substantial gap between them and the following pack. In the closing stages Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum did well to hold off multiple advances from Alesayi but kept his cool to take fourth just behind Fahad Algosaibi. The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East returns for final Round 6 at the Bahrain International Circuit in April as the support race for the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix. Overall championship standings ahead after Race 2 Round 5 Top 6 1st Clemens Schmid UAE Al Nabooda Racing 240 points; 2nd Zaid Ashkanani Kuwait BuzaidGT 228 points; 3rd Saeed Al Mehairi UAE Skydive Dubai Falcons 177 points; 4th Charlie Frijns NED Team Frijns 170 points; 5th Hasher Al Maktoum UAE Skydive Dubai Falcons 166 points; 6th Raed Raffii BAH Team Bahrain 138 points. Overall Team Title standings after Race 2 Round 5 Top 6 1st Al Nabooda Racing UAE 351 points; 2nd Skydive Dubai Falcons UAE 341 points; 3rd BuZaid GT KUW 266 points; 4th Classic Arabia Racing KSA 258 points; 5th Team Bahrain BAH 218 points. For the full race schedule driver profiles or latest news on GT Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East please visit the official website: www.gt3cupchallenge-me.com or follow series'' news at www.facebook.com/porscheGT3CCME or on Twitter PorscheGT3CCME.

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