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GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, UAE based Mardini reflects on season opening , Summary
Race for Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle shows no sign of cooling off during short winter break

After two sensational rounds of race in season 8 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, a short winter break is unlikely to slow the hectic pace of the most competitive season in the championship’s history.

The mouth-watering ingredients of a new and expanded grid with 16 drivers’ from12 different countries, including nine newcomers to the series, has proved the perfect recipe for action-packed racing. Four races into the 12 race season and there is nothing to split the top two drivers both sitting level on 90 points each.

It’s just as close throughout the entire field. Less than five points separate the first and second places across gold, silver and bronze categories, and no podium has been the same on any of the four occasions so far. Even qualifying has proved ridiculously tight. In Dubai less than two seconds divided the first seven drivers on the grid.

For UAE-based driver Bashar Mardini the break until Round 3 on 27th and 28th January at the Dubai Autodrome offers a chance to reflect on the opening two rounds as well as time to help prepare for his return to the track in 2017.

Mardini said: “It has been a crazy journey so far, and to think we are only four races into the season is really exciting and slightly unbelievable. There certainly hasn’t been much time for new drivers like myself to ease our way in. It’s a big step up. Round 1 in Bahrain forced everyone into the deep end and made you realize just how serious and competitive this championship is. It definitely took me by surprise and I knew that in Dubai I had to make the most of my track experience and start putting some points on the leaderboard.”

Despite the winter break only starting already drivers are setting their sights on Round 3 and a return to the Dubai Autodrome for the second of two back to back rounds on the testing UAE circuit. Especially those who are making their debut in the region’s leading series. Emerging racing stars like Mardini are desperate to make use of their fresh experience and will seek to secure all-important championship points and challenge for silverware.

Current leaders of the series after two rounds are Qatar-based Charlie Frijns and Ryan Cullen of Ireland joint on points at the top of the overall drivers’ standings. Experienced UK driver, Tom Oliphant, will take comfort sitting closely behind in third place. However he will be aware that only 30 points separate him from seventh place in the standings, great testament to how close the season is.

For Mardini, a tough start to the season in Bahrain saw him arrive in Dubai for Round 2 in 16th place in the competition. But his home track fortunes changed. A different driver came out of the pits at the Dubai Autodrome and after two impressive performances in both races, Mardini goes into the winter break sitting 10th in the overall drivers’ standings. A brilliant six places higher than his position after Round 1 in Bahrain. With Round 3 returning to Dubai, Mardini is hoping for more of the same.

He added: “I couldn’t have asked for a better way to wrap up 2016. I felt that I really found myself in the Cup Car at Dubai Autodrome and to finish on the podium in race 1 and jump six places in the standings is all I could have hoped for. To open another year of racing on my home circuit in Dubai is just perfect. I hope that the excellent weather conditions can help bring out the best in me. I will be spending considerable time with the team over the break to assess every inch of my races so far this season – hopefully it will show!”

Speaking on the championship so far, owner of Lechner racing, and founder of the series, Walter Lechner, said: “We have worked very hard to get the championship in a position like this. It is great to see a full grid of 16 cars, and even better not being able to predict where the drivers will finish. The competition from the first to the very last car across the finish line is intense and we have seen over the first two rounds that everyone has a chance of winning their category. These drivers are living their dreams and gaining so much from the experience.

“The new drivers have come in and performed very well. With the addition of some of the more fearless younger drivers, each race is more and more thrilling to watch. This is what motor racing should be about, and bringing this drive, determination, and passion to the Middle East is something that I am very proud of.”

For racing fans in the UAE, the return of the spectacular Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East to the Dubai Autodrome in January will provide the perfect opportunity to follow the championship from the stands, and witness the exhilarating Porsche action first hand.

The championship will not move far for Round 4, remaining in the UAE as drivers descend on the popular Yas Marina, Formula One circuit in Abu Dhabi to mark the halfway stage of the season on 10th -11th February. Bahrain will welcome the drivers back to the home of the Porsche GT3 CCME series for the remaining two rounds, with Round 5 taking place on the 10th -11th March and Round 6 taking place in April 2017 in the form of the Bahrain F1 support race.




Championship standings after Race 3 (of 12 races) – Season 8

Name Country Category Points
1st Charlie Frijns QAT Gold 90
2nd Ryan Cullen IRE Gold 90
3rd Tom Oliphant GBR Gold 80
4th Dylan Pereira LUX Gold 65
5th Al Faisal Al Zubair KSA Silver 62
6th Bander Alesayi KSA Silver 59

GCC Rookie Championship standings after Race 3 (of 12 races) – Season 8

Name Country Category Points
1st Al Faisal Al Zubair OMA Silver 62
2nd Isa S. Al Khalifa BAH Bronze 40
3rd Isa A. Al Khalifa BAH Silver 35
4th Mohammad Al Saud KSA Bronze 30

Next race

Round 3 (of 6)
27 - 28 Jan 2017
Dubai Autodrome, UAE



All reports on the previous season can be found in our archive.