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Muscat Daily
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- Muscat Daily
Oman's Al Faisal al Zubair and teammate Jens Klingmann power to victory at Brands Hatch
Muscat – Al Manar Racing by Team WRT's Al Faisal al Zubair and teammate Jens Klingmann delivered a sensational performance to win the second of the one-hour Sprint races at the opening round of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Series at Brands Hatch circuit in England on Sunday. After finishing fifth in the first of the two short races, Al Zubair and Klingmann delivered a masterclass in pit strategy to kick start their season in the new series with outright victory in the Gold Cup category and sixth position overall in Sprint race two at the helm of the Al Manar Racing by Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO. Al Zubair said: 'Starting off doing very minimal laps in the Sprint Championship was something to get used to. Brands Hatch is such a difficult track and we didn't have much running time. There were a few red flags in practice. I think we did a total of 20 laps before we got into qualifying. It was not so easy. 'We started off with qualifying on the wrong foot. We finished fifth in class in the first race and then we won the second race. To jump so many people in the second stint and in the pit stop is something that we should be very happy of. It is good to get a start like this and we can look forward to the rest of the season.' Al Zubair began the opening one-hour Sprint race from sixth on the Gold Cup grid but was not able to make headway through the opening laps. Arthur Rougier drove the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari to give the CSA Racing McLaren a brief lead but Chris Lulham hit the front again in the Ferrari after the mid-race pit stop and driver change. Klingmann took over from Al Zubair with the sole target of moving up the field and he managed to sneak ahead of James Kell in the CSA Racing McLaren following the driver changeovers after 23 laps. Lulham continued to lead from Louis Prette in the Garage 59 McLaren as the opening Sprint race headed into its closing stages and on to the chequered flag. Klingmann held on to secure a fifth-place finish for the Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT BMW after 42 laps of racing. Race two took place in similar cool and overcast conditions in the afternoon. Klingmann took the wheel for the first stint and quickly settled into fourth place behind the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari, the Saintéloc Racing Audi and the Tresor Attempto Racing Audi. Full course yellows failed to prevent Klingmann from maintaining his position but the damage was done at the driver changeover when the Al Manar Racing by Team WRT delivered the strategy to perfection and Al Zubair hit the front. The Omani continued to lead from the defending champions, Saintéloc Racing, and overcame another full course yellow to win race two with a margin of just under three seconds to Thierry Vermeulen and Chris Lulham in the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 after 37 laps. Al Zubair and Klingmann carried out free practice on Saturday morning and ran the Al Manar Racing by Team WRT BMW for 30 laps. The team carded a best lap of 1min 24.186sec that put them fifth of the Gold Cup runners. The Emil Frey Racing Ferrari topped the times with a tour of 1min 23.178sec. Pre-qualifying was next on the agenda but the Al-Manar Racing duo could only manage a best lap of 1min 24.720sec and the bragging rights from the Gold Cup session went to the Garage 59 McLaren with a time of 1min 24.122sec. Qualifying was split into two sessions and Al Zubair managed six laps in Q1. The Omani carded a best tour of 1min 24.626sec and that put him in sixth in the stint with Thierry Vermeuelen winning Q1 for Emil Frey Racing with a lap of 1min 23.374sec. Klingmann faired slightly better in Q2 and was classified in fifth of the Gold Cup runners with a best lap of 1min 24.012sec with Chris Lulham winning the stint for Emil Frey Racing to claim pole position for the first of the two one-hour sprint races. Action in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Series continues at Zandvoort in the Netherlands on May 16th-18th.
Observer
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- Observer
Al Faisal powers to Gold Cup glory at Brand Hatch
MUSCAT: Al Manar Racing by Team WRT's Al Faisal al Zubair and team-mate Jens Klingmann delivered a sensational performance to win the second of the one-hour Sprint races at the opening round of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Series at Brands Hatch circuit in England on Sunday. After finishing fifth in the first of the two short races, Al Zubair and Klingmann delivered a masterclass in pit strategy to kick start their season in the new series with outright victory in the Gold Cup category and sixth position overall in Sprint race two at the helm of the Al Manar Racing by Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO. Al Zubair said: 'Starting off doing very minimal laps in the Sprint Championship was something to get used to. Brands Hatch is such a difficult track and we didn't have much running time. There were a few red flags in practice. I think we did a total of 20 laps before we got into qualifying. It was not so easy. 'We started off with qualifying on the wrong foot. We finished fifth in class in the first race and then we won the second race. To jump so many people in the second stint and in the pit stop is something that we should be very happy of. It is good to get a start like this and we can look forward to the rest of the season.' Al Zubair began the opening one-hour Sprint race from sixth on the Gold Cup grid but was not able to make headway through the opening laps. Arthur Rougier drove the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari to give the CSA Racing McLaren a brief lead but Chris Lulham hit the front again in the Ferrari after the mid-race pit stop and driver change. Klingmann took over from Al Zubair with the sole target of moving up the field and he managed to sneak ahead of James Kell in the CSA Racing McLaren following the driver changeovers after 23 laps. Lulham continued to lead from Louis Prette in the Garage 59 McLaren as the opening Sprint race headed into its closing stages and on to the chequered flag. Klingmann held on to secure a fifth-place finish for the Al Manar Racing by Team WRT BMW after 42 laps of racing. RACE 2 HONOURS Race two took place in similar cool and overcast conditions in the afternoon. Klingmann took the wheel for the first stint and quickly settled into fourth place behind the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari, the Sainteloc Racing Audi and the Tresor Attempto Racing Audi. Full course yellows failed to prevent Klingmann from maintaining his position but the damage was done at the driver changeover when the Al Manar Racing by Team WRT delivered the strategy to perfection and Al Zubair hit the front. The Omani continued to lead from the defending champions, Sainteloc Racing, and overcame another full course yellow to win race two with a margin of just under three seconds to Thierry Vermeulen and Chris Lulham in the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 after 37 laps. Al Zubair and Klingmann carried out free practice on Saturday morning and ran the Al Manar Racing by Team WRT BMW for 30 laps. The team carded a best lap of 1min 24.186sec that put them fifth of the Gold Cup runners. The Emil Frey Racing Ferrari topped the times with a tour of 1min 23.178sec. Pre-qualifying was next on the agenda but the Al Manar Racing duo could only manage a best lap of 1min 24.720sec and the bragging rights from the Gold Cup session went to the Garage 59 McLaren with a time of 1min 24.122sec. Qualifying was split into two sessions and Al Zubair managed six laps in Q1. The Omani carded a best tour of 1min 24.626sec and that put him in sixth in the stint with Thierry Vermeuelen winning Q1 for Emil Frey Racing with a lap of 1min 23.374sec. Klingmann faired slightly better in Q2 and was classified in fifth of the Gold Cup runners with a best lap of 1min 24.012sec with Chris Lulham winning the stint for Emil Frey Racing to claim pole position for the first of the two one-hour sprint races. Action in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Series continues at Zandvoort in the Netherlands on May 16-18.
Times of Oman
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- Times of Oman
Omani colours glow as Al Faisal Al Zubair powers to Gold Cup glory under grey skies at Brands Hatch
MUSCAT: Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT's Al-Faisal Al-Zubair and team-mate Jens Klingmann delivered a sensational performance to win the second of the one-hour Sprint races at the opening round of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Series at Brands Hatch circuit in England on Sunday. After finishing fifth in the first of the two short races, Al-Zubair and Klingmann delivered a masterclass in pit strategy to kick start their season in the new series with outright victory in the Gold Cup category and sixth position overall in Sprint race two at the helm of the Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO. Al-Zubair said: 'Starting off doing very minimal laps in the Sprint Championship was something to get used to. Brands Hatch is such a difficult track and we didn't have much running time. There were a few red flags in practice. I think we did a total of 20 laps before we got into qualifying. It was not so easy. 'We started off with qualifying on the wrong foot. We finished fifth in class in the first race and then we won the second race. To jump so many people in the second stint and in the pit stop is something that we should be very happy of. It is good to get a start like this and we can look forward to the rest of the season.' Al-Zubair began the opening one-hour Sprint race from sixth on the Gold Cup grid but was not able to make headway through the opening laps. Arthur Rougier drove the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari to give the CSA Racing McLaren a brief lead but Chris Lulham hit the front again in the Ferrari after the mid-race pit stop and driver change. Klingmann took over from Al-Zubair with the sole target of moving up the field and he managed to sneak ahead of James Kell in the CSA Racing McLaren following the driver changeovers after 23 laps. Lulham continued to lead from Louis Prette in the Garage 59 McLaren as the opening Sprint race headed into its closing stages and on to the chequered flag. Klingmann held on to secure a fifth-place finish for the Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT BMW after 42 laps of racing. Race two took place in similar cool and overcast conditions in the afternoon. Klingmann took the wheel for the first stint and quickly settled into fourth place behind the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari, the Saintéloc Racing Audi and the Tresor Attempto Racing Audi. Full course yellows failed to prevent Klingmann from maintaining his position but the damage was done at the driver changeover when the Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT delivered the strategy to perfection and Al-Zubair hit the front. The Omani continued to lead from the defending champions, Saintéloc Racing, and overcame another full course yellow to win race two with a margin of just under three seconds to Thierry Vermeulen and Chris Lulham in the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 after 37 laps. Al-Zubair and Klingmann carried out free practice on Saturday morning and ran the Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT BMW for 30 laps. The team carded a best lap of 1min 24.186sec that put them fifth of the Gold Cup runners. The Emil Frey Racing Ferrari topped the times with a tour of 1min 23.178sec. Pre-qualifying was next on the agenda but the Al-Manar Racing duo could only manage a best lap of 1min 24.720sec and the bragging rights from the Gold Cup session went to the Garage 59 McLaren with a time of 1min 24.122sec. Qualifying was split into two sessions and Al-Zubair managed six laps in Q1. The Omani carded a best tour of 1min 24.626sec and that put him in sixth in the stint with Thierry Vermeuelen winning Q1 for Emil Frey Racing with a lap of 1min 23.374sec. Klingmann faired slightly better in Q2 and was classified in fifth of the Gold Cup runners with a best lap of 1min 24.012sec with Chris Lulham winning the stint for Emil Frey Racing to claim pole position for the first of the two one-hour sprint races.
Times of Oman
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- Times of Oman
Omani Colours Glow Aa Al-Faisal Al-Zubair Powers to Gold Cup Glory under Grey Skies at Brands Hatch
MUSCAT: Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT's Al-Faisal Al-Zubair and team-mate Jens Klingmann delivered a sensational performance to win the second of the one-hour Sprint races at the opening round of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Series at Brands Hatch circuit in England on Sunday. After finishing fifth in the first of the two short races, Al-Zubair and Klingmann delivered a masterclass in pit strategy to kick start their season in the new series with outright victory in the Gold Cup category and sixth position overall in Sprint race two at the helm of the Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO. Al-Zubair said: 'Starting off doing very minimal laps in the Sprint Championship was something to get used to. Brands Hatch is such a difficult track and we didn't have much running time. There were a few red flags in practice. I think we did a total of 20 laps before we got into qualifying. It was not so easy. 'We started off with qualifying on the wrong foot. We finished fifth in class in the first race and then we won the second race. To jump so many people in the second stint and in the pit stop is something that we should be very happy of. It is good to get a start like this and we can look forward to the rest of the season.' Al-Zubair began the opening one-hour Sprint race from sixth on the Gold Cup grid but was not able to make headway through the opening laps. Arthur Rougier drove the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari to give the CSA Racing McLaren a brief lead but Chris Lulham hit the front again in the Ferrari after the mid-race pit stop and driver change. Klingmann took over from Al-Zubair with the sole target of moving up the field and he managed to sneak ahead of James Kell in the CSA Racing McLaren following the driver changeovers after 23 laps. Lulham continued to lead from Louis Prette in the Garage 59 McLaren as the opening Sprint race headed into its closing stages and on to the chequered flag. Klingmann held on to secure a fifth-place finish for the Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT BMW after 42 laps of racing. Race two took place in similar cool and overcast conditions in the afternoon. Klingmann took the wheel for the first stint and quickly settled into fourth place behind the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari, the Saintéloc Racing Audi and the Tresor Attempto Racing Audi. Full course yellows failed to prevent Klingmann from maintaining his position but the damage was done at the driver changeover when the Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT delivered the strategy to perfection and Al-Zubair hit the front. The Omani continued to lead from the defending champions, Saintéloc Racing, and overcame another full course yellow to win race two with a margin of just under three seconds to Thierry Vermeulen and Chris Lulham in the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 after 37 laps. Al-Zubair and Klingmann carried out free practice on Saturday morning and ran the Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT BMW for 30 laps. The team carded a best lap of 1min 24.186sec that put them fifth of the Gold Cup runners. The Emil Frey Racing Ferrari topped the times with a tour of 1min 23.178sec. Pre-qualifying was next on the agenda but the Al-Manar Racing duo could only manage a best lap of 1min 24.720sec and the bragging rights from the Gold Cup session went to the Garage 59 McLaren with a time of 1min 24.122sec. Qualifying was split into two sessions and Al-Zubair managed six laps in Q1. The Omani carded a best tour of 1min 24.626sec and that put him in sixth in the stint with Thierry Vermeuelen winning Q1 for Emil Frey Racing with a lap of 1min 23.374sec. Klingmann faired slightly better in Q2 and was classified in fifth of the Gold Cup runners with a best lap of 1min 24.012sec with Chris Lulham winning the stint for Emil Frey Racing to claim pole position for the first of the two one-hour sprint races.
Times of Oman
13-04-2025
- Automotive
- Times of Oman
Al Zubair flies Omani flag high with podium finish at Paul Ricard
Paul Ricard (France): Al Faisal Al Zubair made a strong start to the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup powered by AWS, proudly raising the Omani flag on the podium after securing third place in the Gold Cup category and an impressive 10th overall at the six-hour season opener at Paul Ricard. Racing with Al Manar Racing by Team WRT, Al Faisal, alongside teammates Jens Klingmann and Ben Tuck, delivered a standout performance that sets the tone for a strong season ahead. After qualifying their BMW M4 GT3 EVO in sixth place, the trio gradually moved through the field and looked set to finish second until Racing's Harry King made a late pass on the BMW and snatched the runner-up spot behind the triumphant CSA Racing McLaren of Arthur Rougier, James Kell and Simon Gachet. Al-Zubair said: 'I'm proud to raise Oman's flag on the podium again. I think finishing 10th overall and third in class on our first time together in GT World Challenge Europe is something we should be proud of. I am happy with how the car performed. We struggled quite a bit in qualifying, but making it into the top 10 and being the third BMW to finish is great. It's a good sign for the rest of the season. Thanks to the team!' The Garage 59 McLaren hit the front of the overall race heading into the second hour and Ben Tuck retained sixth place and was running around a lap behind the leading driver Dean McDonald. Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT climbed to fifth soon after and maintained fifth through the 2.5-hour mark. The Garage 59 McLaren continued to lead the Gold Cup category into three and a half hours of the race, but had slipped to fourth in the overall classification, as the Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT BMW remained in fifth. The leading McLaren hit trouble in the next segment and, with 90 minutes of the race to run, the CSA Racing McLaren led the Gold Cup category and canny strategies had seen Tuck, Klingmann and Al-Zubair climb to second place. With 30 minutes of the race remaining, Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT retained second place only to be overtaken late on by the Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO. The Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT trio used the free practice session on Friday morning to shakedown the BMW with Klingmann setting the best lap of 1min 54.889sec in dry conditions. That put the team just 0.470 seconds off the fastest Gold Cup lap time set by the Garage 59 McLaren. After a short pre-qualifying session on Friday evening, attention turned to the all-important qualifying stints on Saturday morning. With the three qualifying sessions combined, pole position in the Gold Cup category went to Adam Smalley, Dean McDonald and Louise Prette in the Garage 69 McLaren with an average qualifying lap of 1min 54.102sec. Al-Zubair, Klingmann and Tuck qualified the BMW M4 in sixth place with a best average time of 1min 54.682sec, their best tour of 1min 54.110sec coming in Q3. Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT now switches its attention to the opening round of the Sprint series at Brands Hatch in England on May 3rd-4th.
