Ashkanani, Schmidt ready for double title bid – Al-Nabooda Racing aim for flying start to new Porsche GT3 Cup season in Bahrain

This news has been read 5126 times!

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 18: Zaid Ashkanani and Jeffrey Schmidt aim to launch their new partnership for Al-Nabooda Racing by making a flying start to the 2015-16 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East at Bahrain International Circuit this weekend. Kuwaiti star Ashkanani and talented Swiss driver Schmidt have set their sights high, and are aiming to clinch both the team and drivers’ titles in the 12-round Porsche GT3 Cup series.

“I will try my best and not put too many expectations on myself, but I think we can make a good start and we want to go on and to win the team championship, as well as the driver’s title,” said Ashkanani, the 2013-14 individual champion.

“Bahrain is the first track where I raced so I know it well. I like the track, I like Bahrain and I like the people there. This feels like a home race to me so I’m really looking forward to it.” Al-Nabooda Racing want to mark their tenth anniversary by winning the Porsche GT3 Cup team crown for the third time in four seasons, and Schmidt is fully focused on the task ahead.

Having showed enormous potential while competing in the Porsche Super Cup and the Porsche Carerra Cup over the last two seasons in Europe, he says: “I know the Bahrain track quite well because we always did our pre-season testing there, and so I’ve got a lot of mileage under my belt there.

“I really like it. It’s an F1 circuit. We drove it in the FIA World Endurance Championship. I’m really looking forward to it, and of course Zaid and I want to make a winning start to the new season for the team.”

Ashkanani and Schmidt will be testing their brand new Porsche GT3 Cup Cars, decorated in Al-Nabooda Racing 10th Anniversary livery, at Bahrain International Circuit tomorrow ahead of Round 1 of the series on Friday. Round 2 follows on Saturday.

“We’ve prepared for the new season more thoroughly than ever and we’re ready for action,” said Al-Nabooda Racing team manager Vijay Rao. “Competition in the Porsche GT3 Cup series increases each year, so we know we will have to be at our best to achieve our objectives. But Zaid and Jeffrey are well prepared for the new season and we approach it in a confident mood.”

This news has been read 5126 times!