Saudi Arabian keeping an eye on his rear-view mirror in Porsche GT3 Cup

Abdulaziz Al Faisal is keeping track of where his challengers to the Porsche GT3 Cup crown are, particularly Clemens Schmid and Karim Al Azhari as the series moves to Saudi Arabia's Reem International Circuit for a pair of races February 6-7.

Abdulaziz Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia is keeping his eye on Clemens Schmid, above, and on Schmid's teammate, Karim Al Azhari of the UAE.

The defending champion Abdulaziz Al Faisal is leading the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East series at the halfway stage of the season, but he knows he faces a huge challenge to win the title for a third successive year.

The Saudi Arabian, who drives for Saudi Falcons, leads his main rival Clemens Schmid of Al Nabooda by 12 points after six rounds with the Austrian's Dubai-based teammate Karim Al Azhari trailing in third place on 117 points going into the next two races of the series at the Reem International Circuit in Saudi Arabia on February 6-7.

Schmid, who has won four of the first six races, including both races at Dubai Autodrome, would have been the championship leader but for a mechanical failure at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi that saw him fail to finish.

Al Faisal, whose two wins this season both came in Abu Dhabi said: "My job is far from done. I may be leading at the halfway stage, but I am only interested in the table at the end of the season.

"You don't win anything after six rounds. Clemens will be fighting, as he has been doing, to take the championship away from me but I am determined to hold on to my crown. Rounds 7 to 12 will be just as frantic and pulsating."

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