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Preview UAE National Race Day 6 at Dubai Autodrome: Now the Championships get serious
UAE National Race Day 6, on Friday 19 March, is set to be a humdinger as drivers and teams as the various Championship battles are very much alive.
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Cytech UAE Touring Car Class A - Three way battle for top honours
In the Cytech UAE Touring Car Championship all eyes will be on the Championship battles in both Class A and Class B categories. The three-way SEAT Supercopa battle for top honours in Class A between Kahlid Al Mutawaa (House of Portier), Jon Simmonds (DXB Racing) and Khalid Bin Hadher is intense. Simmonds will be wanting to capitalise on his double victories in the recent Sportbike Festival races while Al Mutawaa in the TAM Auto Engineering car is sure to come out fighting to regain the upper hand. The Emirati ace leads the Championship points standings by 4 points from Simmonds, the two title contenders have won four races each. Bin Hadher could well be the spoiler in this equation although 24 points adrift he has tasted victory on two occasions and will be out for a repeat performance.
Cytech UAE Touring Car Class B - Who can stop the Lap 57 boys
In Class B the Honda’s of Lap 57 duo Omran Al Owais and Umair Khan top the standings with 35 points and 33 points respectively. Khan has been on the top step of the podium on six occasions this season but a DNF has not helped his cause as Owais has been consistently racking up the points, hence leading the title chase. Out to reel them in will be Aslam Moola who is twelve points adrift, however the South African faces a concerted onslaught on his third place Championship standing from the likes Jason O’Keefe (a2b Motorsport Honda) and Mohammed Al Mutawaa (House of Portier Renault). A mere two points separate these three drivers.
UAE Sportbike 1000 Class - No stopping Moodley as focus turns to runner-up battle
South African champion Arushen Moodley has taken this season’s UAE Sportbike Championship by storm on his Aprilia and has his hands firmly on the 1000 Class title. He has had an unbeaten run of ten out of ten victories and a handsome points lead. Only force majeure has a chance of intruding on his championship ambitions.
The real focus is on the battle for runner-up slot which has turned into the battle of the best locally based riders. Second in the standings, in his rookie season in the "big banger" class, is Hussein Al Kooheji (Yamaha) who has been a revelation this season and lies second in the championship with 108 points to his name. His Yamaha team mate, veteran, Rod Scott lies third in the title chase with 101 points with Saudi Abdulaziz Binladin (Aprilia) a point behind in fourth.
UAE Sportbike 600 Class – Chasing Grosjean
Some of the closest two wheel racing this season has been in the 600 Class where Yamaha mounted Pascal Grosjean has won most of the races but has had to sweat for his wins with the likes of Jussi Hoikka (Yamaha), Jason Burnside (Mapei Honda) and Omran Al Sayed (Kawasaki). This trio, apart from chasing Grosjean, are battling it out among themselves with Hoikka on 125 points, Al Sayed on 115 points and Burnside on 100 points.
Total UAE GT Championship Class A – Al Azhari can clinch title this weekend
Multiple UAE champion Karim Al Azhari (House of Portier Corvette) could add to his collection of titles if he finishes in the top three of Class A in the UAE GT Championship race on UAE National Race Day 6. He goes into the race with a healthy 13 points lead and knowing the Dubai based ace he will be going for nothing less than an outright win. Khaled Al Qubaisi (Abu Dhabi Falcon Racing Porsche) lies second in the title race. Behind him there is a three-way tie between Tarek Elgammal/Cabell Fisher (Khaleji Porsche) and Julian Griffin (DXB Racing).
DXB Racing have drafted in Le Mans and LMP1 pro Rob Barff to drive with Griffin, but there is bad news for the Khaleji duo is that there engine will not be ready for UAE National Race Day 6 and are unlikely to be on the grid.
Total UAE GT Championship Class B – Denby on a streak
Paul Denby (Porsche) is on a hot streak with a hat-trick of wins in the last three races and as a result has a healthy points lead, going into round 6, over impressive privateer Harris Irfan (Porsche) who in turn will be looking to consolidate his second place in the standings. Fredric Gaillard (DXB Racing Mitsubishi Evo X-GT) lies third in Class B and will again joined by DXB team mate Jon Simmonds who will drive the team’s Aston Martin.
GulfSport Radical Cup – Grogor looking to extend points lead
More often than not this season AUH Motorsport have been at the sharp end of proeedings in the GulfSport Radical Cup with their driver Jordan Grogor leading the Championship standings. Last time out, at the Sportbike Festival race day, his team mate Christophe Hissette had the bit between his teeth and notched up two ins on the day to keep the title battle very much alive. Grogor leads with 254 points with Hissette trailing on 206 points. However with over 20 points available to race winners and six rounds left, anything can happen and in motorsport often does. Also in with a shout is Bob George who has consistently collected points and sees him with 193 in the bag. The AUH Motorsport "rear guard" of Carl Rolaston and Bassam Kronfli are fifth and sixth respectively.
PaddockTalk Perspective
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