MOTORSPORT – Caleb Sumich from Australia set the overall fastest time yesterday in the two practices of the 2025-26 Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East’s (PCCME) season-opening round, being held as part of this weekend’s events in the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.
Sumich posted a fastest lap time of two minutes 03.409 during the first session held yesterday morning. His best was marginally quicker than the timesheet-topping mark of Taichi Watarai from Japan in the second practice held in the afternoon. Watarai had a mark of 2:03.578.
Saud Al Saud from Saudi Arabia was second-best in both sessions. He followed Sumich in practice one 0.474secs behind, while lady driver Alexandra Vateva from Bulgaria was third-quickest 0.615s back. All three drivers are competing in the PCCME’s Pro category.
Also in practice one yesterday, setting the pace in the ProAm class was Sam Shahin from Australia with a best lap of 2:04.043, while Mark J Thomas from Canada was the leader in the Masters category with a top lap time of 2:05.452.
In practice two, Watarai was a mere 0.049secs faster than Al Saud on the timesheet, while Max Mutschlechner from Italy was classified third 0.589s back. All three were also the leaders competing in the PCCME’s Pro class.
Cedric Chassang from France was the top man in the ProAm category with a lap of 2:05.166, while Krister Andero from Sweden was the Masters’ best with a mark of 2:05.268.
The PCCME will be back in action today with qualifying scheduled for 11.10am, which will set the grid for the meeting’s two races. Race one will be held this evening starting at 5.45pm, while race two is tomorrow at 11am.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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