Proton Competition, the Emirates Global Aluminium and Abu Dhabi Racing-backed team, driver Khaled Al Qubaisi is looking forward to the challenge at the 6 Hours of Fuji this coming weekend.
To be held from October 10-12, the six-hour race is considered to be one of the most challenging of endurances of the eight-round series, apart from the 24 Hours of Le Mans where Al Qubaisi and team finished second overall in class LMGTE Am.
But the bigger challenge for Al Qubaisi is the fact that though he has experience of racing on numerous circuits worldwide, the Abu Dhabi native has never raced on the Fuji track; but the Abu Dhabi Racing driver is nevertheless undaunted.
He said: “Fuji will be tough. If it rains then we have a better chance as the Astons are too fast in dry conditions. The goal is always to be on the podium, but it won’t be easy as we have to be the best of the rest.”
Irrespective of what is ahead, Al Qubaisi says he will fight to improve upon his position in the LMGTE Am class, where he is one point behind P3 and three points behind P2 in the drivers and teams’ championship.
Al Qubaisi and his team-mates Christian Ried and Klaus Bachler will be behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 RSR.
Meanwhile, Porsche Team Manthey will field a two-car entry with the Porsche 911 RSR at Fuji International Speedway. In 2012, Porsche won on the demanding circuit at the foot of Mount Fuji.
Last year, however, torrential rain saw the race stopped early after several attempts to restart behind the safety car.
The works-entry at round five of the World Endurance Championship is the first outing with new Porsche Motorsport boss Dr Frank- Steffen Walliser at the helm.
The six-hour race takes off on Sunday, October 12, at 11:00 local time (06:00 UAE) and will end at 17:00 local time (UAE 12:00).
