News update 11 February 2014
Regions top motor racing series' and best drivers gather for championship action at Dubai Autodrome this weekend
On the bill races for Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge ME, NGK Racing Series, UAE Sportbikes Championship, Radical ME Cup and Formula Gulf 1000
The Dubai Motorsport Festival takes place at Dubai Autodrome this weekend - Friday and Saturday - with an impressive schedule of top notch championship racing and a host of paddock based, off track, activities for race fans.
The highlight of the weekend is without doubt the return of the rip roaring, flame belching Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East where the region's top drivers will battle it out in Rounds 9 and 10 of the GCC's premier motor racing series.
The likes of Al Nabooda Racing's Clemens Schmid and Karim Al Azhari, Kuwaiti ace Zaid Ashkanani Saudi prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal and the UAE's very own Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum and Saeed Al Mehairi in Skydive Dubai colours will square up to deliver two epic races during the course of the weekend, in identical 400 horsepower purpose built race cars run by Lechner Racing.
Also on the bill are Rounds 9 and 10 of the NGK Racing Series which take place on Friday and Saturday respectively, where the country's top tin top competitors will battle it out in Class 1, Class 2 and Clio Cup.
For the two wheel aficionados the UAE Sportbikes invariably produce large dollops of exciting racing, with the UAE Championship at stake for 600 Class riders, along with the 'race-within-the-race' Rookie Cup and the non championship 1000 Class.
Adding to the variety are two mini enduro races counting towards the Radical Middle East Cup where a mix of gentlemen drivers and semi-pro racers mix it up on track in Le Mans style prototype cars.
Formula Gulf 1000, featuring some of the regions most talented youngsters, add extra value to the packed two days of racing.
On Friday, 14 February, qualifying starts at 09:40am, followed by the first of five races at 13:50pm. The next day, Saturday, qualifying begins at 10:25 with the first of the day's five races set to be flagged off at 11:05 am.
During the course of both days entry is free for spectators and there will be a host of activities in the Autodrome paddock to keep race fans of all ages well entertained, with snacks and refreshments available in the Pit Stop lounge above the pit garages.
Entry for spectators is free with access to the grandstands and paddock area.