Honda driver Khan proves to be in class of his own at Yas Marina Circuit

Umair Khan took a pair of wins and clinched his third straight title in Class 2 while Nader Zuhour also won twice to help his chances of taking the Class 1 title in theTotal UAE Touring Car Series.

Nader Zuhour, in the orange-and-black SEAT, extended the title chase in Class 1 Total UAE Touring Cars by winning both races at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Umair Khan won twice in Class 2 at the Yas Marina Circuit on Friday to capture the Total UAE Touring Car series championship.

"Mission accomplished," said Khan, who has made it three titles in three years in the series. "It really was a very good day, but more than that it has been a great year for us.

"We grew as a team and made no mistakes. This is a tribute to Lap57 teamwork and the crew, who made it happen. We have taken a big step forward over the past season; last year we were inconsistent, and this year we corrected the problems and the championship is our reward."

Including the two he won Friday, the Honda driver has claimed victory in nine consecutive races.

His teammate, Rupesh Channake, finished second, followed by the Gulf Petrochem Renault Clio of Constantinos Annivas, in both races.

In the race-within-a-race, Constantinos's brother, Alexandros, finished fourth in class, just high enough to take the inaugural Clio Cup title.

"This was my longest day in the cockpit," said Annivas, who overcame his Renault's sour gearbox in the second race.

"I did everything I knew to nurse it home with it jumping out of gear. There was no gearbox left. Really, it was nerve-racking stuff, and it was a big relief to finish and take the title."

Nader Zuhour took maximum points in Class 1 by recording a pair of victories in his SEAT for NFS Racing.

"We started with several top contenders and even now there are three drivers capable of winning the title," Zuhour said.

"My win at Yas started in practice on Thursday, where I adjusted the way I drive. Being less aggressive and dominating with the car, I went with the flow and drove according to what the car wanted, not what I wanted. And it worked."

Nothing worked for Zuhour's main title rival, Costas Papantonis of the Gulf Petrochem team, who went home after the weekend with a pair of did-not-finishes after.

Papantonis remains in the title chase, which now comes down to the April 13 events at the Dubai Autodrome, where double points will be available in both events.