*** ----> Porsche GT3 Cup: Plans well in motion for a spectacular return | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Porsche GT3 Cup: Plans well in motion for a spectacular return

Manama : Following the eighth edition of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, plans are already well in motion for a spectacular return for Season 9 later on this year. 

This announcement comes midway through the global motorsport calendar and whilst some of the drivers that competed in the Middle East over the winter period, are battling it out in the prestigious Porsche Mobile 1 Supercup across Europe this summer.

Championship organiser Lechner Racing has revealed heightened interest from drivers keen to be a part of the future schedule, thanks to the regional debut of the brand-new Porsche GT3 Cup cars in Season 9 and the continued commitment to deliver a world-class series to nurture racing talent in the Middle East.

The UAE will hope to see the return of Bashar Mardini after a successful debut outing last season, with further potential for new talent to join the grid, hopeful to follow in the footsteps of previous local champion Jeffery Schmidt and Saudi Arabia will hope to see the return of experienced driver Bandar Alesayi after many successful years in the championship, with further potential for new talent to join the grid this season. 

The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East was established with the vision of offering drivers from the region a pathway to compete on the international stage and at the highest level of motorsport.

Several drivers have emerging through the championship to reach the pinnacle of one-make racing, the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, as founder and manager of the series, Walter Lechner, explained: “2017 has felt like a watershed moment for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. It was always our dream to create a series that could fulfil the ambitions of drivers in the region. Now in one glance at the starting grid of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and the motorsports world can see that dream become a reality. Al Faisal Al Zubair, Zaid Ashkanani, Ryan Cullen, Dylan Pereira are all graduates of our Middle East series and perfect examples of what is possible.”