DUBAI — Saudi Falcons Abdulaziz Al-Faisal has set up a thrilling climax to the fifth season going level on points with Clemens Schmid (196) and three behind new leader Zaid Ashkanani after finishing fourth in Race 2 at the Dubai Autodrome. Saudi's Fahad Al-Gosaibi grabbed his second podium of the weekend, coming second behind Ashkanani. Starting fourth on the 19-car grid, former champion Al-Faisal was eyeing a podium position to edge past Clemens Schmid in the championship standings, but could not improve on his fourth place grid position. Starting second on the grid, Al-Gosaibi produced a composed and valiant race to finish second with Skydive Dubai Falcons Sheikh Hasher Al-Maktoum coming third. Al-Faisal, who will be gunning for his third series title said: “The front three took full advantage of new tires and it paid off for them, whereas I had old tires and could not find the momentum to close in on Al-Maktoum in the final stages of the race. We were close in the first five laps and were looking for an opportunity early on but were unable to do it. Leading from pole to checkered flag the revelation of the 2013-2014 season, Zaid Ashkanani looked safe in front despite being pushed all the way by Fahad Al-Gosaibi of Saudi Arabia. The young Kuwaiti had an excellent start on the clean side of track which helped him on his way to victory, and to the top of the drivers' standings. The drama behind was mainly restricted to the opening laps with Saudi Falcons' Al-Faisal jumping up a position from fourth to third, while Salman Bin Rashid Al-Khalifa dropped down to finish sixth. Producing one of the drives of the weekend was Skydive Dubai Falcons' Al-Maktoum who was pushed on by the cheers from his home crowds. Starting ninth on the grid the Emirati driver had shot up to fourth by lap 3 and proceeded to pile the pressure on Al-Faisal who was forced into giving up his spot, eventually finishing where he had started in fourth. Al-Maktoum's teammate Saeed Al-Mehairi also made the best of a few errors by others, making his way past Al-Khalifa and Christina Nielsen to finish fifth. Al-Nabooda's Karim Al-Azhari was unable to hold on to his fifth place qualification and ended the race in seventh, just ahead of Faisal Binladen of the Saudi Falcons. After taking maximum points in Race 2, Ashkanani has leapfrogged Schmid into first in the drivers' championship and opened up a three-point gap over his Al-Nabooda rival with 199 overall points. Schmid's lack of points from the weekend has also allowed two-time former champion Al-Faisal to draw level on 196. With one round to go the thrilling Dubai weekend results mean the championship title cannot be decided until the final race of the series — Round 6, Race 2 — with 25 points available for first place in Race 1 and 25 points available in Race 2. Second place in each race will pick up 23 points, third place 21 points and fourth place 19 points. It's a case of as-you-were in the team standings, with Al Nabooda Racing staying on top but losing ground to the Saudi Falcons who have cut the gap from 49 points to 22. Third placed Skydive Dubai Falcons have also reduced the distance between them and second place from 16 to 10. The Dubai weekend results have set up the most grand of finales, with the region's most professional racing series set to come to a thrilling climax at the Bahrain International Circuit for Round 6 on March 7 and 8. — SG
