Al Nabooda Racing fix sights on more Porsche GT3 Cup success after reclaiming drivers title

Dubai team already planning for new season after Schmid triumphs in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East

Al Nabooda Racing will quickly look to build on three years of success in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East after finishing the 2014-15 season with the overall drivers’ title and a strong share of team honours from the 12-round series.

Clemens Schmid completed another impressive campaign for the Dubai team, recording seven race victories on his way to securing the drivers’ championship for the second time in three seasons.

A race incident which put Schmid out of the penultimate round in Bahrain on Saturday and later saw Dutch driver Rob Frijns penalized by the stewards cost Al Nabooda Racing a third successive team crown.

The combination of Schmid and Omani Ahmad Al Harthy finished runners up to Sky Dive Dubai Falcons, matching them with a record of five outright or shared team race victories for the season.

“The incident which put Clemens out in Bahrain was desperately bad luck as the team title was firmly in our hands, but these things happen in racing,” said Al Nabooda Racing team manager Vijay Rao.
“We congratulate Sky Dive Dubai on their success, and will savour the fact that we have again carried off the drivers’ title after another outstanding season for Clemens.d

“Now we’ll quickly move on and plan for next season where we’ll be looking to underline our status as the most successful team in the Porsche GT3 Cup series since we first entered a two-car team three years ago.”

Added Rao: “What this season has shown is that the championship is getting tougher and the competition for points and places on the grid is increasing with every season.

“In racing, you’re always learning, and as a team we’ll prepare even more thoroughly for the 2015-16 season and will be stronger again going into it.”

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East – final team standings:

1. SKY DIVE Dubai Falcons (UAE) 427pts
2. Al Nabooda Racing (UAE) 395
3. Classic Arabia Racing (KSA) 344
4. BuZaid (KUW) 300
5. Team Bahrain (BAH) 279
5. Frijns Structural Steel ME (QAT) 230

Driver standings

1. Clemens Schmid (UAE) 257pts
2. Zaid Ashkanani (KUW) 247
3. Saeed Al Mehairi (UAE) 217
4. Hasher Al Maktoum (UAE) 210
5. Charlie Frijns (NED) 183
6. Raed Raffi (BAH) 168
6. Fahad Al Gosabi (KSA) 168
8. Wolfgang Triller (GER) 144
9. Bandar Alesayi (KSA) 141
10. Ahmad Al Harthy (OM) 138