11 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East reached the half way stage in Saudi Arabia, with five drivers locked in an intriguing tussle for honors which could go all the way to a dramatic climax in the UAE in April. Bahrain's Sheikh Salman Bin Rashid Al-Khalifa goes into Rounds 5 & 6 of the 12-round series at Reem International Circuit in Riyadh Wednesday and Thursday holding a slender two-point lead from Saudi's defending champion, Prince Abdulaziz Al-Faisal. While the top two continue their fight for supremacy, Abu Dhabi's Khaled Al-Qubaisi, record-breaking teenager Fahad Algosabi, and another Saudi driver, Bandar Alesayi, are determined not to let the championship develop into a two car-race. Holding third place, Al-Qubaisi wants to build on his three podium places from the opening four rounds in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain and prove that he can take his title challenge all the way to the finish on home territory at Yas Marina Circuit on April 8-9. Currently lying fourth, AlGosabi will be looking to reproduce the form which saw him become the youngest ever race winner in Porsche one-make series history at Reem last season. Alesayi, who took third place overall in the inaugural Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, has the opportunity to make full use of local knowledge at Reem as he tries to climb from his current fifth place in the championship. It all adds up to a thrilling two days of Porsche GT3 Cup racing during a busy program of events at the Reem circuit where Sheikh Salman is aiming to add to his two race wins so far this season and extend his lead. While he took pole position for seven of last season's 12 rounds, the Bahraini driver could manage only one victory, although his performances so far this season suggest he believes that he can snatch the title from Prince Abdulaziz. Saudi's defending champion, who scored nine race victories in the 2009-10 series, will have tremendous home support at Reem.
