The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East will be showcasing the very best of regional motorsport in support of this year’s Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
The series’ champions of 2016/2017 will be crowned in Bahrain as their season comes to an end at the year’s biggest event, hosted by BIC from April 14 to 16.
The Porsche GT3 Cup is one of three supporting categories for the weekend; the other two are the FIA Formula 2 Championship and the TCR International Series.
The Porsche GT3 Cup is based on the highly successful Porsche formula for racing. The championship was created to give the region’s home-grown driving talent an opportunity to realise their racing potential, while enhancing personal circuit experience.
It is now well established as the most exciting, successful and professional one-make series on the regional motor racing calendar.
Drivers
Launched in 2009, the championship is in its eighth season. It features the region’s leading drivers, all competing in the powerful and dynamic Porsche 911 GT3 Cup on the Middle East’s world-class circuits.
The diverse range of drivers hail from as many as 12 different nations across the Middle East and Europe, making for the most international line-up in the series’ history.
Heading into the season finale, Ryan Cullen leads the drivers’ championship standings with 238. His five rounds of action have included seven race victories, with three in a row coming prior to Bahrain. Charlie Frijns trails in second place with 205 points, while Tom Oliphant is third on 198 markers. Each of the top three overall are also the leading trio in the Gold class.
Bandar Alesayi leads the silver category with 157 points, just a single point ahead of Al Faisal Al Zubair. Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla Al Khalifa of Bahrain is in sixth place with 74 points.
In the bronze class, Magnus Ohman is the leading man with 117 points. Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa is in second place with 100 points, while Shaikh Hamad bin Isa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa is fifth with 44 markers.