Faisal BinLaden claims second podium finish

Saudi Falcons Faisal BinLaden claimed his second podium of the weekend as he finished in second position in Round 8 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East at Reem International Circuit. After starting third on the 15-car grid, BinLaden manufactured a text book opening corner to overtake Fahad Algosaibi on the 17-lap 3.2 KM Reem International Circuit in a race which was comfortable won by Al Nabooda’s Clemens Schmid. With two second-places during the race weekend in front of his adoring fans, Bin Laden was happy with his weekend’s work. He added: “I am very happy with my performances this weekend. I have performed consistently throughout but could not overtake Clemens who was very fast in this race. Starting third on the grid, I overtook Fahad in the first corner but the gap created by Schmid was too big to reduce.” Schmid once again produced another textbook race, seeing off challenges from Saudi Falcons Faisal Bin Laden and Mohammed Mattar to claim maximum points and overtake Abdulaziz Al-Faisal in the overall championship standings. Having registered a victory of 2.354 seconds over Bin Laden, an ecstatic Schmid said: “It is a great feeling to win back-to-back races in Reem. The victory means I am leading in the championship standings with four rounds to go and hopefully I can keep hold of top spot. Even though it was comfortable for me, the real action was at the back, with positions changing regularly in the final few laps.” With reigning champions Abdulaziz Al-Faisal failing to finish Round 8 following a race incident, the result means Schmid has now overtaken Saudi Falcons Al-Faisal in the overall driver standings with 178 points. Following a disappointed weekend on his home circuit, Al-Faisal moves down to second place, 6 points behind with 172 points and UAE’s Al-Azhari of Al Nabooda maintains third position on 142 points after eight rounds in the Middle East’s most exciting race series. As with the previous rounds qualifying, the big guns were once again overwhelmed by the youngsters. With Schmid taking up his customary position on the front of the grid, Fahad Algosaibi, son of Fawaz, produced a stunning section of racing that defied his teenage years to start second on the grid, with Saudi Falcons Faisal Bin Laden, who recorded his first podium of the season in Round 7, in third. Once again Abdulaziz started fourth on the grid with Ashkanani in fifth and rookie Charlie Frijns in sixth. Schmid started just as he had finished Round 7, once again dominating the race from pole to the checkered flag, without being tested by those fighting for second place including Algosaibi, Bin Laden and Abdulaziz. With Schmid winning easily, the pulsating action further down the field saw Bin Laden show all his skills, courage and local knowledge to secure second place. The battle for the final podium position changed regularly, with Fahad Algosaibi leading for the majority of the race, until an incident with home favorite Abdulaziz knocked him down the pecking order, which enabled Karim Al-Azhari to take the position. But the Al Nabooda Racing driver could not hold onto it for long as Team Bahrain’s Mohammed Mattar overtook him in the closing stages of the race to claim the final podium. With two second-places during the race weekend in front of his adoring fans, Bin Laden was happy with his weekend’s work. He added: “I am very happy with my performances this weekend. I have performed consistently throughout but could not overtake Clemens who was very fast in this race. Starting third on the grid, I overtook Fahad in the first corner but the gap created by Schmid was too big to reduce.” Despite leading in third position for the majority of the race, Algosaibi had to settle for seventh place, with Manfred Ender claiming his first top six by finishing fourth, Hannes Waimer claimed fifth and Charlie Frijns finished in sixth. The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East championship standings after Round 8 are: 1st Clemens Schmid (178 points), 2nd Abdulaziz Al-Faisal (172 points), 3rd Karim Al-Azhari (142 points), 4th Faisal Bin Laden (129 points) and 5th Zaid Ashkanani (119 points) The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East Team Standings after Round 8 are: 1st Al Nabooda (320 points) 2nd Saudi Falcons (301 points), 3rd Team Bahrain (261 points). Season 4 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East returns in Qatar with Rounds 9 and 10 at the Losail International Circuit on 8th and 9th March 2013. From Arabnews