Al Zubair rounds off European Porsche Racing Programme with 12th place in second race

HOCKENHEIM (GERMANY): Al Faisal al Zubair wrapped up his summer and autumn of European circuit racing by finishing in 12th position in the last round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany at Hockenheim in Germany on Sunday morning.

The Omani started a processional race from 13th position, climbed to 12th and maintained that position to the finish — a mere 12.244 seconds behind the race winner — as he gained vital experience for the German circuit’s return to the Porsche Mobil 1 Super Cup calendar in 2018.

“This was a much better race,” said FZ Racing’s Al Faisal. “Yesterday I lost a position and today I made up a position at the start. It is quite tough to overtake here. The pace was excellent and the car felt much better and we were only three seconds off the group in front and running with the front pack. Yesterday we were struggling. We fixed the set-up and it was far better.”

Konrad Motorsport’s Dennis Olsen had already clinched the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany title on Saturday and the Norwegian finished his campaign with second position. Olsen’s team-mate Thomas Preining snatched the lead on the opening lap and managed to hold off his rivals to claim the win.

Christian Engelhart of the Black Falcon team finished third after starting on pole position. Nick Yelloly and Kuwait’s Zaid Ashkanani rounded off the top five.

Race two

Al Zubair lined up in 13th position for the last European race of the season and the finale to the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, with Engelhart on pole position in dry, sunny conditions.

Preining managed to sneak through into the lead on the opening lap from Olsen, Engelhart and Yelloly, as Al Zubair climbed one place to 12th. The leaders held station through four of the 18 laps, but guest driver Igor Wallilko collided with the crash barriers and retired and Al Zubair maintained his position heading into lap eight.

By halfway, Preining led from Olsen, Engelhart, Yelloly and Ashkanani and Al Zubair retained 12th and could not find a way past Gabriele Piana. The procession continued through the next few laps and Preining held on to take the chequered flag from Olsen and Engelhart.

Al Zubair now heads to Mexico at the end of the month to take part in the final two rounds of the Porsche Mobil 1 Super Cup that are being held in conjunction with the Mexican F1 Grand Prix.