Motorsport: Oman’s Al Faisal earns points at Porsche Super Cup race in Hungary

Oman’s Al Faisal Al Zubair continued his rapid progression through the rookie ranks in the Porsche Mobil 1 Super Cup with a solid 12th position and another handful of points in the sixth round of the series at the Hungaroring on Sunday.

The Lechner Racing Middle East team driver started the race in 12th and then had to make his way back from 14th position to eventually reach the chequered flag in his pole starting position. Victory on the 4.381km circuit went to Germany’s Michael Ammermüller, who extended his series lead with a fourth maximum points’ haul of the season. 

Dennis Olsen passed Dan Cammish to claim second and rookie Al Zubair was later told that he scored points for 11th position, as a driver ahead was not registered for the series. This was another superb effort for a young driver with limited experience of European circuits.

“I made a good start but then, in turn two, one of the drivers hit me and I dropped a few positions and had to come back to finish in P12,” said FZ Racing’s Al Faisal. “Maybe some other drivers could get penalties, but I was happy with the way it went.”

Cammish started strongly and managed to pass Ammermuller to take the lead, with Robert Lukas in third and Olsen in fourth. Al Zubair held 14th through lap three after his earlier collision, but Chris Bauer, Tom Sharp and Sean Hudspeth stopped and Ryan Cullen retired.

Olsen managed to pass Lukas and snatch third place and the leading group held station into lap six with Al Zubair slotted into 14th.

Ammermuller managed to regain the advantage from Cammish heading into lap eight, as Olsen and Lukas followed and Al Zubair retained 14th place. Zaid Ashkanani retired after a collision at turn two, Al Zubair climbed to 13th and Cammish started to feel the pressure from Olsen in the battle for second place. Mikkel Pedersen retired one lap later.

By lap 12, Al Zubair had managed to climb another position to hold 12th and then got ahead of Thomas Preining to snatch 11th. Ammermuller held on to claim his fourth victory of the season and increase his championship lead, as Olsen and Cammish finished second and third and Al Zubair reached the chequered flag in 12th after Preining regained his 11th position on penultimate lap 13.

Action in the Porsche Mobil 1 Super Cup resumes at Spa in Belgium on August 25, although there will be a test session in early August in Monza.