Zubair clinches maiden win, Cullen claims championship SAKHIR, Bahrain — Teenage sensation Al-Faisal Al-Zubair won the penultimate race of Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East Season 8 in spectacular fashion at the Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, as part of the official 2017 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix weekend. A remarkable maiden victory came courtesy of a near flawless performance from pole. The Omani responded to the intense final round pressure to claim the vital race win by 0.678 seconds in the 10-lap race over rivals Charlie Frijns of Qatar in second and Ryan Cullen of Ireland third. For Saudi's Bandar Alesayi a strong performance saw the experienced driver just manage to keep his dreams of winning the silver category alive for the final race of Season 8. Alesayi had a strong start from the grid seeing him climb immediately into third place. He struggled to maintain this position during a fight with Luxembourg's Dylan Pereira and was forced out wide early on, which saw him fall back down the grid. Coming into the weekend, Alesayi was 1 point clear at the top of the silver category standings, but with Al-Zubair taking the maximum amount of points in Race 1, Alesayi is now seven points behind his rookie rival. Speaking after the race Alesayi said "I don't want to be too optimistic, but I am hoping for a strong performance in the last race of the season Sunday, and aiming to finish on the overall podium. Let's see if we can finish the season on a real high." Today's third place finish means that ahead of the final race Ireland's Ryan Cullen has secured the overall drivers' championship for the first time in his career. Debutant Al Zubair stole the show on the biggest stage in Middle Eastern motorsport by establishing an early lead and taking advantage of his qualifying position in a race that beautiful illustrated the competitive present and exciting future of Porsche racing in the region. The final outcome of this year's championship is determined over the 11 best results of the season, with all drivers allowed to drop their worst result. For Cullen this minor rule change was academic. Seven race wins in the 11 starts so far this season powered him to the top of the standings and into an unassailable lead over second placed Charlie Frijns. Behind Cullen the fight continues for the final overall podium in the driver standings and cross the GCC Rookie Category as well as the Silver and Bronze categories. To have so many drivers all engaged in battle to the very last race and across the entire grid the dream outcome for organisers and fans. The showdown for silverware will now play out in front of mass crowds and global TV audiences in the exciting build-up to whet the appetite ahead of the start of the 2017 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. The twelfth and final Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East will take place Sunday, as a support race to the 2017 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. — SG
