JEDDAH — Four Saudi Arabian drivers will line up on the grid for the spectacular fifth season opener of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, the most competitive and professional motorsport series in the region. Out to set the standard from the opening Round on November 29 at Bahrain International Circuit will be former champion Abdulaziz Al-Faisal, joined once again by Faisal Bin Laden at last year's runners up in the team championship, Saudi Falcons. The duo will be joined by Saudi veteran Fawaz Al-Gobaisi for Classic Arabia Racing, while Khaled Bin Sultan Al-Faisal will make his long-awaited return to the competition in Bahrain for Al-Faisal Racing. Official testing for the new season will get underway at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) on Thursday and Friday, with the quartet of Saudi drivers set to take control of the stunning all new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup which debuts in a regional race championship for the first time anywhere in the world. Season four of the series left a bitter taste for the Saudi Falcons who finished second in the inaugural team championship. The pain was even greater for Abdulaziz Al-Faisal who saw the driver's title slip from his grasp in the last race of season. The former champion is out to set the record straight in 2013-14. In its landmark fifth season Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East continues to raise the bar, setting new benchmarks for regional motorsport. Such characteristics have seen the popularity of the series in Saudi Arabia grow, especially with Saudi Falcons Racing out to prove themselves as the competition's top crew. The Saudi Falcons team will be led by the flag bearer of motor racing in the Middle East, Al-Faisal. The charismatic 30-year-old has developed into one of the most complete drivers the region has ever produced, adding his flair to the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. With the championship's ultimate aim of nurturing new talent throughout the region, Al-Faisal's teammate Binladen represents the new breed of performance drivers. Last year Binladen helped ensure the Saudi Falcons were competitive to the series end. Regarded as the purest form of racing the new season with a new look promises to be the most exciting yet. Once again all drivers will be competing in identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup over 12 rounds of racing between November 2013 and March 2014. Six intensely competitive race weekends will once again be hosted at the region's leading circuits in Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Walter Lechner, Manager of Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East said; “Saudi Arabia has always produced talented drivers and thanks to this series they now a platform to perform at the very highest level.” The Saudi racing heroes will line up on a world-class grid featuring a number of past champions, veterans and home grown future stars for the opening rounds of the new season on Nov. 29 and 30 at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) as part of an illustrious World Endurance Championship weekend.
