Oman Air Racing Team's Ahmad Al Harthy concluded the opening weekend of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship third overall in the Pro-Am 1 points standings at Brands Hatch in Kent today, Sunday, 3rd April, after salvaging a fifth place finish from a bruising second round of the season.Lining up on the grid as the fourth fastest Pro-Am 1 qualifier, Ahmad made a repeat of the good start he produced during round one on Saturday and looked set to challenge for the podium once more but bitterly disappointing contact as he headed to the first corner destroyed his chances.Getting away cleanly as the lights went out, Ahmad ran on the outside line towards Paddock Hill Bend but contact between fellow Pro-Am 1 runners Rory Butcher and Alex Martin on the inside led to Butcher's car spearing left into the side of the Omani's Porsche.Pitching him into a 360 degree spin with the force of the impact and causing an immediate puncture, due to damage to the valve of his right-rear tyre, the 29-year-old limped back to the pits where the Redline Racing mechanics fitted a new wheel. Rejoining a lap down at the tail of the field in his Oman Air, Nawras, National Bank of Oman, Brand Oman, Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs and Oman Ministry of Tourism-supported car, Ahmad tried to make up as much ground as possible and scythed his way past a number of cars - finishing fifth in Pro-Am 1. Although disappointed after seeing his hopes of another podium push fade at the first corner of the long 35-lap race, on reflection Ahmad was very satisfied with his weekend's work having started the year so strongly with a podium in the first race and holding third position in the driver standings."Obviously it's very disappointing today's race wasn't as good as Saturday's but this is motor racing, sometimes things happen which you can't control and that happened today", he commented, "I'd made a good start, everything seemed fine, and then out of nowhere I was hit heavily."Overall though we have to be very satisfied with the weekend, it's been a great start with the second place in race one and I am pleased I was able to finish fifth today to add more points to my total. It's so important to score whatever you can when things don't work out so well, so we have a lot of positives to take away. Thank you, as always, to my sponsors for their tremendous support."Heading to Donington Park in the East Midlands just two weeks from now for rounds three and four of the 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship, Ahmad is just nine points shy of the top of the standings in Pro-Am 1. The second event of the season will take place on 16th/17th April.