Abu Dhabi - Arab Today
Circuit Racing and Endurance Star Khaled al-Qubaisi
Supported by Emirates Global Aluminium, the Circuit Racing and Endurance Star Khaled Al Qubaisi is on his mission to represent the United Arab Emirates and Abu Dhabi Racing in what is considered the biggest World event for endurance
(World Endurance Championship FIA WEC), where the Proton Competition Team, which consists of Khaled Al Qubaisi, Christian Ried, and Klaus Bachler have respectively yielded second, first, and fourth position in the 3 free practice of LMGTE AM category on board their new Porsche 911 RSR, whereas the prequalification rounds proved fiercer, and resulted in positioning Al Qubaisi and his teammates in the 6th start grid at the British 6hrs Silverstone race.
Car No. 88 of Proton Competition, piloted by our Emirati Champion Khaled Al Qubaisi, Klaus Bachler, and Christian Ried, succeeded in making a strong presence on the British Silverstone circuit when Porsche 911 RSR achieved second fastest result in its category (LMGTE AM) during the first free practice of 6hrs Silverstone Race with a duration of 2:02:023m, after which the car bearing the colours of "Abu Dhabi Racing" was swift at pulling off the fastest time in the second free practice run at 2:00:570m, where the trio Al Qubaisi, Ried and Bachler outran a number of cars in higher categories.
"W managed to rearrange the car's settings after the initial free practice, which rid the car from an under steering nudge, and positively affected the car's performance in the 2nd free practice to help us score the fastest times and outrun some of the higher categorised cars." Al Qubaisi commented, and added: "Surely, it's merely free practice, but nonetheless gives us a glimpse of how the race could unfold and what sort of ground we hold. We are extremely happy with the car's performance, and have every intention to further push the prequalification practice to take a frontal position at start-up.
On the second day, the eight teams competing in the LMGTE AM category and mostly driving the Ferrari F458 Italia, all concluded the third free practice before moving to compete in the prequalification practice. Proton Competition were not able to better their position in the third free practice beyond 4th due to a red flag which stood wall preventing Al Qubaisi from making enough rounds around the circuit of Silverstone.
On the second day, the eight teams competing in the LMGTE AM category and mostly driving Ferrari F458 Italia, all concluded the third free practice before moving to compete in the prequalification practice. Proton Competition were not able to better their position in the third free practiced beyond 4th due to a red flag which stood wall preventing Al Qubaisi from making enough rounds around the circuit of Silverstone.
When asked about his strategy for the 6hrs British race which starts on Sunday at exactly 3:00 pm Emirates local time, Al Qubaisi said: "We are pretty pleased with the car's performance; our speed in both free and prequalification practice was high. I have no doubt that we will be very fast during the race, and like I said earlier, it will be a tough mission since we are competing with strong teams, but making podium is something that can be achieved".
Source: WAM