UAE: Muhlner Motorsport Dubai summary

After two wins in succession Muhlner Motorsport get another podium in the UAE GT championship

Andrew Donaldson pilots the CYTECH Porsche to position 3

Francorchamps / Dubai. The Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium based Muhlner Motorsport Team entered the 7th round of the GT Championship in the United Arab Emirates with Hassan Rassouli's CYRUS GROUP sponsored CYTECH Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S on the 3,56km long National Circuit of the Dubai Autodrome.

Behind the wheel of the GT3 Porsche was the Singapore based Brit, Andrew Donaldson, who had won the 6th round of the UAE GT Championship for Muhlner Motorsport which he added to his 2nd place in the 4th round of the championship in January, also driving the CYTECH Porsche.

The 5th round of the championship had been held at the Yas Marina grand prix circuit in Abu Dhabi where the Muhlner Motorsport team run CYTECH Porsche dominated all track sessions including the race in the hands of the German Rene Rast.

As early as Thursday's free practice for the 7th round it became apparent that the competition had not been idle -- Donaldson had to be satisfied with third quickest lap time. In Friday's free practice this improved to 2nd place, which he also achieved in qualifying to ensure a place on the front row.

As the lights went out he lost the start duel and came around at the end of the first lap in 4th place. With a couple of quick laps, almost at qualifying lap speed, he was able to reassert himself in 2nd place. However, at the same time the TAM Engineering entered Callaway Corvette driven by Karim Al Azhari was racing away to a 20 second lead.

As a result of the win in the previous round, the team was given a success penalty of a 15 second longer pitstop which succeeded in mixing things up mid-race. Donaldson had his mirrors full again...

The leading Corvette wanted to change tyres at their pitstop but things did not go as planned. As a wheel had not been properly tightened, Al Azhari had to come to the pits again and Donaldson in the CYTECH Porsche was able to lead for a few laps. A super three way fight for the lead between Donaldson, the DXB Viper and the ARM Porsche in the hands of the English professional driver Sean Edwards, allowed Al Azhari to catch up quickly, the group was quickly overtaken and he pulled away to an unchallenged lead.

Once the Corvette had found a way past Donaldson, Julian Griffin in the DXB Viper and Edwards in the ARM Porsche were also able to follow suit. As Sean Edwards had shortcut one corner, he was given a drive-through penalty and thus Donaldson was able to get a podium.

The running order at the chequered flag was thus: TAM Corvette from DXB Dodge Viper from CYTECH Porsche. Thus Muhlner Motorsport achieved yet another podiums result in the UAE GT Championship.

The eighth race of the UAE GT Championship is on 23rd April, also in Dubai. Who will be driving the CYTECH Porsche has not yet been decided.

-source: muehlner motorsport