Manama: Al Nabooda Racing’s Clemens Schmid won the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East drivers championship in the final round of the six-stage series in Bahrain on Sunday.
Schmid failed to finish the first race but was able to finish fifth in race two, just behind his title rival Zaid Ashkanani of team Buzaid GT, which was enough to claim his second drivers title in three seasons by 10 points.
Meanwhile, Team Skydive Dubai secured team honours, despite coming into the event eight points off Al Nabooda Racing. Drivers Shaikh Hasher Al Maktoum and Saeed Al Mehairi knew they would have to outdo Al Nabooda’s Clemens Schmid and Ahmad Al Harthy over two races to claim the title.
In the first race Al Maktoum finished second to Bandar Al Esayi, and Al Mehairi came fifth, while Schmid didn’t finish and Al Harthy came sixth.
In race two, Al Mehairi and Al Maktoum finished second and third respectively behind race winner Fahd Al Gosaibi, while Schmid finished fifth and Al Harthy came eighth.
“This weekend didn’t go exactly to plan,” said Schmid. “Today I pushed as hard as I could without taking any risks but still we didn’t make the podium so we weren’t able to retain the team title. I’m pleased to have won the driver’s championship and I dedicate the win to all at Al Nabooda Racing.”
Al Maktoum of Skydive Dubai said: “I’ve had my best weekend of the series, so I’m proud of our achievements as a team for Skydive Dubai. Winning the team title was always the priority and we did it for Dubai.”
Al Mehairi, who won the silver category drivers championship ahead of his teammate Al Maktoum, added: “We set out with very clear tactics to drive calm, smooth and clean. That’s all we needed to do to win the team title and we stuck to our task.”
