Al Nabooda Racing have named an unchanged driver line-up for the 2013/14 season as they aim to repeat their double championship triumph in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.
Clemens Schmid and Karim Al Azhari will defend the team and individual drivers’ titles they secured last season.
Austria’s Schmid won seven of the 12 rounds in the 2012/13 season on his way to capturing the drivers’ crown, while the UAE’s Al Azhari finished third overall as the pair combined to earn the Dubai team’s first title in the series.
The two drivers will be in action when the one-make series enters its fourth season on November 29, with the first of six double-race weekends taking place at Bahrain International Circuit.
“We set out last season to become the leading team in the GT3 Cup series,” said Vijay Rao, the team manager. “That was always our priority, so we were thrilled to achieve our target, and very happy to see Clemens land the drivers’ title.
“To secure a team championship, you need drivers capable of winning races, and both Clemens and Karim were up to the task. Our success last season has made us hungry for more.”
Al Azhari secured his first GT3 Cup win in the final round in Bahrain last season. He won the Gulf Radical Championship in 2005 and 2006, followed by successive UAE GT titles in 2007 and 2008.
“Last season was a fantastic one for the team,” said the Emirati, 30. “It was a big thrill to win the team championship, and to get my first race victory in the series, and I was very happy for Clemens, as he was the outstanding driver and fully deserved his title.”
Schmid, 23, who has gained more experience in recent months in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in Europe.
“The level of competition will probably go up a gear again this season,” he said. “So it will be more difficult to win, and we’ll work as hard as possible to get the right results for the team.”
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