ME: Series Reem preview

Prince Abdulaziz can clinch Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge with two rounds to spare

Saudi star aims to wrap up Porsche title race

Dubai. Saudi Arabia's Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal will become the first ever champion in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East next week if he can hold his nerve on home territory.

The Saudi driver has won six out of eight rounds since the new one-make Porsche series was launched in Bahrain back in December, finishing second in each of the other two races.

It means that, while there are four rounds remaining, he can clinch the title with another couple of second place finishes in Rounds 9 & 10 at Reem International Circuit outside Riyadh on Wednesday and Thursday next week (March 24-25).

There were jubilant scenes during a historic two days at Reem in January when Prince Abdulaziz marked Saudi's first ever international circuit race meeting with back-to-back victories.

He repeated that feat when the Michelin and Mobil 1-sponsored series moved on to Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit last month and a fortnight later scored another win and a second place in the UAE capital.

The only other two drivers to score victory in the series to date are his team-mate and cousin, Prince Khalid Al Faisal who lies second in the 12- round championship, and fourth-placed Bahraini star Sheikh Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa.

Both will be aiming for their second success in the Middle East's inaugural season of Porsche GT3 Cup racing when the series returns to Reem next week, with the final two rounds to follow there on March 31-April 1. Sheikh Salman, the 2005 Formula BMW Asia champion and one of the pre-season favourites, will be particularly keen to improve on his haul of just one win despite starting five races from pole position.

While Prince Abdulaziz has been in dominant form, another Saudi driver, Faisal Binladen, has a 100 per cent record in the Mobil 1 Trophy for rookies and senior amateur drivers, and he will also be out to maintain his winning sequence next week.

-source: pcc me