Omani star Al-Faisal Al-Zubayr, German teammates Fabian Schiller and Zimbabwean Axel Jeffreys finished the three-hour race at the German Hockenheimring with fifth place in their category, and 13th overall in their class, and 13th overall out of the 49 cars that participated in the race, which was a round of the GT World Challenge Europe – Fanatic from AWS” – Endurance Cup.
The Mercedes-AMG GT3 drivers in the Al-Manar Racing Team colors started from seventh place, and were able to advance two places in the Silver Cup category, and finished the race in fifth place, just 15 seconds behind the winning car in this category. However, the trio slipped to fourth place in the provisional drivers’ overall standings in the Silver Cup category.
Al-Faisal said: “We finished the race in fifth place in the silver category, and 13th overall out of the 49 participating cars. In fact, it wasn’t too bad, we were hoping to win or win this race at the end of the week. When we got into the race, we realized that the handling balance of the Mercedes was not as strong as the Audi. In the race, it was more difficult for the teams that used Mercedes cars.”
Al-Faisal added, “However, being fifth with a very competitive roster is something that we are very happy with. I’m excited now for the last round in Barcelona (Spain). Hopefully we can get a good result there, and we’ll see how it goes.”
Al-Faisal drove the car on the first run, handing it over to Axel after about 55 minutes. By the middle of the race, after completing 50 laps, Konsta Lapalainen, Mick Wichover and Stewart White topped the silver Lamborghini endurance class in the Emile Ferrari Racing Team colours, followed by Aurelian Banes and Cesar Gaziounicholas. Pirate is in second place. The Mercedes “Al-Manar Racing Team” car took seventh place, a little less than 35 seconds behind the leading car.
With just over an hour left and 83 laps to go, the trio of Konsta, Mick and Stewart continued to lead the Silver Cup category, followed by Nicholas Scholl, Alex Aka and Marius Zug in an Audi R8 in Atempetol Racing’s colours. Al-Faisal and his teammates moved forward to sixth place, seven seconds off the lead.
The trio of Konsta, Mick and Stewart maintained their lead until they won the Silver Cup category with 101 passes, Mikolas, Alex and Marius finished in second, and Al Faisal, Axel and Fabian crossed the finish line in fifth.
The trio of Benjamin Goethe, Thomas Neubauer and Jean-Baptiste Semenauer led the free practice time table for the Silver Cup category, with a time of 1:54,558, while the Mercedes “Manar Racing Team” drivers finished the session in eighth place, with a time of 1:56,104.
There was another free practice period, prior to qualifying, and the drivers participated in three 15-minute qualifying sessions.
Al-Faisal, Axel and Fabian qualified ninth in Q1 and finished sixth in Q2 with a time of 1:38.298, and then set the seventh-fastest time in Q3. The pole position went to the drivers’ benefit. Benjamin and Tommasojan-Baptiste in a McLaren GT3 in Garage Team 59 McLaren colours.
In addition, the GT World Challenge Europe – Fanatic from AWS – Endurance Cup will be held at Barcelona, Spain, between the first and second of October.
ranking
And in the following Silver Cup provisional overall standings:
01- Benjamin Goethe/Thomas Neubauer/Jean-Baptiste Simnauer 100 points
02- Nicholas Scholl/Alex Aka/Marius Zug 68 points
04- Stuart White/Konsta Lapalainen 58 points
04- Al-Faisal Al-Zubair / Axel Jeffries / Fabian Schiller 54 points
05- Thomas Tuyola/ Aurelian Banes/ Cesar Gazio/ Nicholas Pirate 33 pts
06- Thomas Drouet/Tomaso Mosca/Casper Stephenson 32 points
07- Jordan Love/Alain Valente/Jans Vetti/Yosu Pohaca 31 points