Al Nabooda Racing will have Clemens Schmid fit to start the 2014/15 season as they chase a third successive team title in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.
Schmid, the 2012/13 drivers’ champion, has recovered from the back injury sustained during race action in Germany last week and will partner Oman’s Ahmad Al Harthy in the Porsche GT3 Cup series, which gets under way at Bahrain International Circuit on November 14-15.
"I've still got a little bit of bruising, but apart from that everything is normal," said the Austrian driver, who was forced to miss last week's Dubai-based launch to introduce Al Harthy as his Al Nabooda Racing teammate, after his car was hit from behind in the final round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany at Hockenheim.
“I spent a couple of days in hospital just to make sure nothing was broken and then rested at home for three more days, but now I’ve been given a clean bill of health and can’t wait for the start of the new season.”
Before teaming up with Al Harthy for the first time in Al Nabooda Racing colours, in Bahrain, Schmid will compete in this weekend’s final round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in the United States.
Meanwhile, the man who beat Schmid to last season's title fight by a single point, Zaid Ashkanani, has confirmed he will be back to defend his crown.
The Kuwaiti driver said he has set himself high targets in his bid to come out on top for a second successive season in the 12-round series, which includes four races at the Dubai Autodrome, two in December and two in January.
“The goal for me is 12 pole positions in qualifying, 12 first places in the races and also the fastest lap on every track,” Ashkanani said.
“Of course, that is the toughest possible challenge, but I want to aim for the ideal season and to get all those things would be as good as it gets, a perfect record.”
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