Former champion Abdulaziz Al-Faisal showed exactly why Dubai Autodrome is one of his favorite tracks in the Gulf with a powerful display earning him second place in Race 1 of Round 4 of the region's most professional racing series, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. The race was won by Ryan Cullen of Ireland with Qatar-based Charlie Frijns in third after Al-Nabooda Racing's Jeffrey Schmidt, the overall championship leader was forced to retire. Unlucky not to be joining his brother on the podium was Saud Al-Faisal who finished a hugely impressive fourth overall but did win his Silver category in a race which had one of the most action packed opening laps in the season so far but ended with little changes in the last half. While not quite the perfect result for Al-Faisal Racing the podium finishes mean a haul of points in both the overall driver and team standings for the Saudi team in what is only their first year of full competition. Second for Abdulaziz has allowed him to close the gap to third placed Zaid Ashkanani while Saud Al-Faisal's win in Silver means he extends his lead in the second tier group. Moreover, the result positions the debut partnership in second in the team standings and with five races left in the season, almost guarantees them a top three spot in their first year; a quite astonishing achievement. The notorious tight right-hand corner at the end of the start finish straight has always been pivotal in determining race results at the Dubai Autodrome especially on the first lap and it proved no different in Race 1 of Round 4. The region's leading drivers will line-up in the Porsche 911 GT3 as the star attractions at Dubai Autodrome. The drivers will face 12 laps of the 5.39KM Grand Prix Circuit at the Dubai Autodrome with Round 4 Race 2 Saturday. — SG
