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ME: Series Bahrain pre-event news

Salman aims for double Porsche GT3 Cup victory in Bahrain Dubai. Bahrain's Sheikh Salman Bin Rashid Al Khalifa has set himself a double victory target in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East when he returns to action on home territory ...

Salman aims for double Porsche GT3 Cup victory in Bahrain

Dubai. Bahrain's Sheikh Salman Bin Rashid Al Khalifa has set himself a double victory target in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East when he returns to action on home territory next week.

Last season's runner-up in the Porsche one-make series is determined to wipe out bitter memories from 12 months ago when he tackles Rounds 3 and 4 during the latest Speedweekend at Bahrain International Circuit on December 2-3.

Sheikh Salman had been eager to make a winning start to the 2009-10 debut season on his home circuit, but failed to finish the opening race and then spun off while leading 24 hours later and had to be content with fourth place.

"I feel I have unfinished business from last year", said Sheikh Salman, who shares the early lead in the Porsche GT3 cup title race with Saudi Arabia's defending champion, Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal.

"I had a touch of bad luck in the first race and then made a mistake in the second, so I want to put all that behind me. I'll be looking to win both races this time, and in fact I feel I have to win every round of the championship. That's my goal.

"I'm not looking too closely at the championship points because they take care of themselves. I'm just focusing on what I need to do to get the best out of myself and limit my mistakes. If I can achieve that I'll be where I want to be."

Despite winning pole position seven times last season Sheikh Salman scored just one victory in the series as Prince Abdulaziz dominated with nine wins. The Bahraini driver made the perfect start to the 2010-11 season, winning the first round at Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, before settling for second place as Prince Abdulaziz stormed back to win Round 2.

"I may have been a bit more conservative with my approach in the second round and probably needed to be a little more aggressive, and that's what I'm going to do next time,"said Sheikh Salman.

"I'm looking to win not finish second, and I'm not worried by outside pressures to do well in Bahrain. I put more pressure on myself. The feeling that this could be my year is there. I'm in better shape than I was psychologically last year because I was coming into the series from single seaters then and wasn't completely comfortable."

The UAE's Khaled Al Qubaisi is aiming to put pressure on the two joint championship leaders in Bahrain. Sheikh Salman recognises the threat from the Abu Dhabi driver, and also sees Saudi's Fahad Algosaibi and Bandar Alesayi as serious challengers.

"Khaled has taken a big step forward this season,"he said. "He is more controlled and presents a bigger challenge to Abdulaziz and myself. He is one we will have to look out for, and we also have to consider Fahad and Bandar. Whoever of those three gets it right on the day can present a challenge."

-source: pcc me/totalcompr

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