Second round of Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East this weekend in Dubai

Bashar Mardini prepares for round 2 in Dubai. Courtesy photo

DUBAI // Bashar Mardini, the lone UAE representative in Season 8 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, is hoping to “turn the tables” on his home turf at the Dubai Autodrome after coming through the opening round in Bahrain without any issues.

The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East is rolling into Dubai this weekend for the second round following a tight first round in Bahrain, with only eight points separating the top five drivers on the overall standings.

Luxembourg’s Dylan Pereira leads the table on 46 points, followed by Ireland’s Ryan Cullen (44) and Holland’s Charlie Frijns (42), Dennis Olsen (40) of Norway and Tom Oliphant (38) of Great Britain.

Mardini, a long-time resident of Dubai and one of the most experienced drivers in the competition, could manage only 12 points from the two races of Round 1, but he is confident of much better returns in the familiar surroundings of the Dubai Autodrome.

“It is going to be great to compete on home soil this weekend, and the Dubai Autodrome is one of the tracks in the Middle East that I am more familiar with,” Mardini, 35, the winner of the 2011/12 Suzuki Swift Cup UAE, said.

“The opening round in Bahrain was my first time competing on the track, and my first experience in the championship so the main aim was to get used to the level of racing and focus on completing the races with no issues.

“This weekend, the tables will be turned slightly with many of the newer drivers racing in Dubai for their first time. I will hope to use my knowledge of the track to my advantage and improve on my results from the last round. I am looking forward to getting back out on the track!”

Only two of the drivers in the top five – Cullen and Frijns – have competed in the series before and Walter Lechner, founder and manager of the series, believes this weekend “has the potential to be one of the most competitive rounds we have ever seen with so many new drivers debuting at Dubai Autodrome”.

“Already we’ve seen that the competition is tight at every level of the series and with that we don’t expect any run away leaders in any category,” he said. “That makes for exciting racing for the drivers and a great spectacle for the fans.”