Ahmad Al Harthy is prepared for two action-packed Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship races at Silverstone National Circuit today 22nd August, following a tough qualifying session at the Northamptonshire venue.

With 27 cars on the grid for this weekend’s 13th and 14th rounds of the season, the 28-year-old Omani racer unfortunately had his quickest qualifying laps compromised by traffic on the very busy 1.64-mile track and so ended up outside his target top four in the Pro-Am 1 Class. Even so, he was still within just over three 10ths of a second of the top three.

His fastest time of 58.245 seconds (101.30mph) placed Ahmad seventh in Pro-Am 1 although his second best lap of 58.585 seconds – at the wheel of his Oman Air, National Bank of Oman, Nawras, Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs and Brand Oman backed car – was good enough for an improved sixth quickest in class for the race two grid.

Speaking after qualifying, Ahmad said: “The session was pretty tough as there was a lot of traffic and we were very unlucky to have had our best laps compromised. We have to focus on the positives though, as we always do, so I’m really looking forward to the races.

“We’re confident our race pace is good and with a clearer run in qualifying I think we could have been third or fourth in Pro-Am 1. The races are long, 28 laps each, and on a track as short as this one there’s bound to be plenty of action – it should be good!”

Ahead of today's pair of races Ahmad is fifth in the Pro-Am 1 driver standings, just six points shy of Redline Racing team-mate Archie Hamilton and 28 points adrift of the coveted top three placing currently held by experienced Porsche Carrera Cup GB competitor Tony Gilham.

2010 Porsche Carrera Cup GB ‘Pro-Am1’ Class Standings (after Rds11&12):1st Ollie Jackson, 123pts; 5th Ahmad Al Harthy, 61pts