Oman’s Al Faisal Al Zubair finishes 11th during race two at Porsche Carrera Cup in Austria

Sport360 staff 00:01 11/06/2018
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  • Al Faisal Al Zubair.

    Oman’s Al Faisal Al Zubair and Khalid Al Wahaibi endured mixed fortunes in the second race at round two of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland in Austria on Sunday.

    Al Zubair climbed from a starting position of 16th to finish 11th out of a huge field of drivers at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, but Al Wahaibi sustained a puncture while lying in 15th position and was forced to retire after 13 of the 17 completed race laps.

    He had started the race in 17th, one place behind his fellow Omani.

    The rookie had, however, been granted a top-10 finish in the first of the races on Saturday, when the results were declared final and penalties had been imposed on other drivers.

    Al Zubair was also promoted into a points-scoring position after his on-track incident the previous day.

    Austrian driver Thomas Preining led from start-to-finish to confirm his second victory of the weekend from BWT Lechner Racing Team colleague Michael Ammermuller of Germany.

    Dutchman Larry ten Voorde finished third for the second day running.

    Al Zubair, who drives for the Lechner Racing Team Middle East team, said: “Eleventh position at the end of the race and, perhaps, a top-10 finish if any time penalties are imposed. It was a very good race considering that we started in 16th.

    “We made up positions and kept it on track. We have learned a lot this weekend and that was the point of doing the German Cup. We are ready now for the next round of the Super Cup at the Red Bull ring.”

    Youngster Al Wahaibi added: “I managed to have a really good start and was running in P11 or 12 until I had a slow puncture on the opening laps. “By lap 13 it was a flat tyre and I could not drive any more. I had a lot of under steer. It might have been the result of contact, but I was not sure. I had to come in and retire. That is disappointing because I think another top 10 finish was possible.

    “We were here to learn anyway. I had never raced against 35 cars in one race before. You learn about overtaking, defending, so I need to look at the positives I have gained. A top-10 in my first European race is pretty good.”

    The Porsche Mobil 1 Super Cup resumes at the Red Bull Circuit between June 28-30.

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