Jeffrey Schmidt, representing Dubai-based team Al Nabooda Racing, enjoyed a near-perfect debut season in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East winning an outstanding nine out of 12 races and securing the championship title, 29 points clear at the top of the overall driver’s standings.
Now, after taking the regional series by storm, the young driver is looking to build on his added experience in the Middle East and return to Europe to compete in the Porsche Carrera Cup in Germany and the Porsche Supercup, which starts in May.
Ali Khaled: European tour has Jeffrey Schmidt head of the curve in Middle East
Driving consistently throughout the course of the year is a massive positive for drivers like Schmidt, who will take a huge amount of confidence from winning Season 7 of the series and the young star expects to reap the benefits as he prepares to compete throughout the summer.
Schmidt is also hopeful that local talent from around the Middle East take note of his racing pathway and capitalise on the opportunity the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East offers to aspiring drivers as he aims to successfully take his form from the Middle East to the racetracks of Europe and beyond.
“It’s an amazing feeling when you win any championship,” Schmidt said. “But to win the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East in my first year will stay with me for the rest of my career.
“It has felt like a long winter, 12 races over the last four months. Throughout the season the competition has got tougher and tougher and you can say the same for the championship year on year.
“Driving in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East has allowed me to build on my driving in a highly professional racing environment. It is great to be able to compete in another part of the world and test my driving skills against very strong drivers from not only the Middle East, but from Europe as well.”
Regarded as the purest form of racing, every lap and every corner of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East counts. Qualifying is split by hundredths of seconds and racing equally competitive with driver talent and race craft the difference between winning and losing as all drivers compete in identical fifth generation Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars.
The 2015/16 season was the seventh instalment since the championship was started by Walter Lechner in Bahrain in 2009. This season has arguably been the best to date, with a perfect balance of seasoned professionals and young, exciting racing talent.
Speaking on the success of the most recent edition Walter Lechner, founder and head of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, said: “Season 7 has been outstanding and the most competitive we have seen across all driver standings.
“The fact that the championship title for this season had to be settled on the final weekend says so much for the reputation and future of this Championship. It also showcases the strength and depth of the grid and highlights that we have a Middle East series that offers something for everyone.”
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East will return later on this year and with plenty to settle on the track from Season 7, the eighth edition is set to be an exhilarating return.
For further details, driver profiles and latest information on the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, visit the official website.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
