Schmid ban blows GT3 Cup title race open

Anthony Fernandes 21:14 15/02/2014
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  • Gaining experience: Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum has improved with every round.

    The race for the driver and team titles in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East was dramatically thrown wide open after leader and Al Nabooda Racing driver Clemens Schmid was handed a one-race ban for dangerous driving.

    The ban was imposed after stewards reviewed an incident in Race 1 of Round 5 on Friday where Schmid clipped Bandar Alesayi’s car on the second corner of lap two, which caused the latter’s car to roll.

    While Alesayi walked away unhurt from the incident, Schmid was forced to retire due to the damage his car had suffered.

    Before the race got underway at Dubai Autodrome, Austrian Schmid had a comfortable cushion of 39 points over closest rival Zaid Ashkanani of Kuwait and 44 points over former champion Abdulaziz Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia.

    However, after being forced out of the race and having to sit out his ban, Schmid has now dropped to joint-second with Al Faisal on 196 points each while Ashkanani has moved to the top of the standings with 199 points after winning Race 2.

    Ashkanani started Race 2 from pole position and was involved in a frenetic battle with Saudi Arabia’s Fahad Algosaibi and Skydive Dubai’s Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum and Abdulaziz.

    The Kuwaiti teenager, however, managed to hold on to his position and cross the chequered flag first with Algosaibi and Sheikh Hasher completing the podium in second and third place respectively.

    Abdulaziz finished fourth and took home 19 valuable points to tie for second place with Schmid while the Austrian’s team-mate at Al Nabooda Racing, Karim Al Azhari, finished seventh and added 14 points to the team standings.

    With just one round to go in Bahrain from March 7-8, the Al Nabooda pairing of Schmid and Al Azhari will come under tremendous pressure at the Losail International Circuit.

    Before Round 5, Al Nabooda Racing had a 41-point cushion over Abdulaziz’s Saudi Falcons and a massive 70 points over Sheikh Hasher’s Skydive Dubai.

    However, as a result of Schmid’s rare moment of indiscretion this advantage has now been cut drastically. Saudi Falcons are just 22 points behind while Skydive Dubai collected a total of 76 points over the weekend and are just 32 points behind Al Nabooda Racing.

    Following the forgettable weekend that could cost them both the titles, Schmid said: “I have to accept responsibility for the incident. Obviously I am disappointed, but the stewards’ decision is the correct one.

    “It’s the first time it has ever happened to me in my driving career, but now I have to look ahead to the final round of the series in Bahrain in March.”

    DRIVERS STANDINGS

    1. Zaid Ashkanani – Buzaid GT (199pts)
    2. Clemens Schmid – Al Nabooda Racing (196) 
    3 Abdulaziz Al Faisal – Saudi Falcons (196) 
    4. Hasher Al Maktoum – Skydive Dubai (166) 
    5. Karim Al Azhari – Al Nabooda Racing (150)

    TEAM STANDINGS

    1. Al Nabooda Racing (342pts) 
    2. Saudi Falcons (320) 
    3. Skydive Dubai Falcons (310)

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