Team Abu Dhabi's Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup driving trio, led by the capital's Khaled al Qubaisi, are hoping a strong showing at Hockenheim in Germany this weekend will turn around their season. The traditional home of the world's leading one-make car series, the 4.57km Hockenheim circuit is one of the highlights of the Supercup season. The Abu Dhabi team, which also features Sean Edwards and Sascha Maassen and is backed by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, believe a good result will be the catalyst for an assault on the team championship standings.
The team are in sixth place. Edwards and Maassen are ninth and 10th, respectively, in the drivers' standings, and al Qubaisi is 20th. Four races are left on the 2010 calendar. "My very first race in Formula Ford took place in Hockenheim," said Maassen, a native of Germany with two decades of racing experience. "Of course, at that time it was the old track. But I also like the new layout, as it offers some great overtaking opportunities."
Britain's Edwards, who has narrowly missed out on several top results this season, is hoping his return to Germany will end a run of bad luck and see the team make up a two-point deficit on rivals Bleekemolen Harders Plaza. "Obviously, the stewards are watching out for me this year and I need to be on my best behaviour this weekend," Edwards said. "Unfortunately, not all drivers and teams are penalised in the same consistent way."
Abu Dhabi's al Qubaisi, who despite crashing out at Silverstone earlier this month still managed to pick up his second championship point of the season, is hoping to add to his tally. "I know the track in Hockenheim already from my time in the Porsche Sports Cup," said al Qubaisi, who is in his first season with the Abu Dhabi team. The race is just before the German Grand Prix tomorrow. * Agency
