Clemens Schmid makes a dream debut in Porsche series

Al Nabooda's Austrian driver wins twice in Bahrain for a 'perfect week'

Al Nabooda Racing's Clemens Schmid won twice in Bahrain. Jorge Ferrari / Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East

Clemens Schmid's debut for Al Nabooda Racing in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East could not have gone better this weekend as the Austrian secured a memorable double in Bahrain.

The 22 year old, who race in the series as an independent last season, won Friday's Round One from pole position at the Bahrain International Circuit and produced an identical performance yesterday to triumph in Round 2.

Bahrain's Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa, who finished second and Saudi Arabia's Abdulaziz AlFaisal in third.

Following his victory by 8.133 seconds Schmid said: "It has been a perfect week for me and Al Nabooda to get maximum points from both rounds.

"In the next race rounds at Yas Marina Abu Dhabi we have to keep the same strategy to continue on our winning ways. Yas is one of my favourite circuits, so I am confident I can repeat my performances."

Schmid dominated from start to finish maintaining first position throughout, without being seriously threatened. His overall lead in the championship stands at six points over Al Faisal, who finished second and third in Bahrain, by collecting two wins and forty points on the opening weekend.

Second placed Al Khalifa, who returned to racing following a year-long absence, said: "It is an amazing feeling getting onto the podium. I am very happy with my race. First position would have been great but Clemens produced a faultless race."

A reflective, Al Faisal, said: "Clemens was simply better than me over the weekend and Salman produced a good performance to finish in second. We will have to look at our strategy for Yas, but I have a good record there and I am confident things will improve."

Despite a straightforward win for Schmid, the real battle was to fill the rest of the top six positions. UAE and Al Nabooda Racing's Karim Al Azhari finished fourth, with Saudi Arabia's Faisal Binladen taking fifth, by holding off a spirited challenge from the talented Kuwaiti teenager Zaid Ashkanani who finished sixth. Bahrain's Mohammed Mattar, who made his debut in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East yesterday, claimed a credible seventh position. The first female to ever race in the series, Christina Nielsen, secured eighth position.

Rounds three and four of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East take place at Yas Marina Circuit on the December 7 and 8.

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