Sunday 17 / November / 2024
Muscat: Just three weeks since wrapping-up a phenomenal double title success during the final event of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East season, Omani racer Al Faisal Al Zubair is now only days away from opening the next chapter of his career – graduation into the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.
Following last week’s official launch of the brand new FZ Racing team, with whom the 19-year-old from Muscat will contest his maiden season in the FIA Formula One World Championship supporting Supercup, Al Faisal is absolutely relishing the most intense challenge of his career to date.
Rounds one and two of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup will take place next weekend on May 13th and 14 at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain, where Al Faisal and FZ Racing are targeting a smooth, consistent start to the ultra-competitive championship.
“This is such a huge step for me but I’m ready and I can’t wait to hit the track in Barcelona,” said the excited Omani. “My first season in Porsche in the Middle East championship was truly amazing, I can’t thank everyone enough for their help and support, and I really feel my driving and my pace developed hugely.
“Translating that to the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup will be a major challenge, but I’m confident I will have a great car and I’m focused on learning as much as possible as quickly as possible. There are lots of circuits to learn and the competition is going to be like nothing I have experienced before. It’s an amazing opportunity though and I’m very grateful to my family and sponsors for their support.”
Without any shadow of a doubt, Al Faisal has already made a big impression during his first year of Porsche racing having produced some truly spectacular performances during the recently concluded Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.
As well as winning the GCC Rookie Class and Silver Class titles, an outstanding feat in his maiden year away from single-seater racing, the teenager – who is proudly supported by Red Bull Oman – also made headlines by winning his first outright race during the season finale in Bahrain.
Notably, that victory came as part of the Bahrain Grand Prix F1 weekend so Al Faisal is already more than familiar with life on the Formula One support package. Preparing to compete against some of the best drivers in the world next weekend in his FZ Racing prepared Porsche, which is engineered by renowned squad Lechner Racing, the Omani is thrilled to be part of Porsche’s flagship championship.
“This really is a dream come true to be racing in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup,” he added.
“I built a great relationship with Lechner Racing during the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, the guys there do a fantastic job running that championship, so I’m very happy to be making the move into the Supercup with their support. I really can’t wait for the first race.”
Opening practice for the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup competitors will take place at 1750 (local time) on May 12, with qualifying following at 1230 (local time) on May 13, ahead of the first race of the new season at 1825 (local time). On May 14, race two will commence at 1145 (local time).
