Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship racer Ahmad Al Harthy celebrated another Pro-Am 1 podium finish, his fourth of the season, at Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire this afternoon, Sunday, 1st May, to end the weekend third in the class driver standings. Maintaining his excellent record of finishing on the rostrum at every race meeting so far, the Oman Air Racing Team star produced a highly competitive performance during this afternoon's sixth round to back-up a very hard-fought fourth place Pro-Am 1 finish in the earlier outing, round five. "We were able to show our true pace more in the second race, I was able to control things and to keep up our record of being on the podium at each circuit is fantastic", said the 29-year-old, "As always, these successes are so important for Oman and the people back home - I'm delighted." Starting this morning's race from third in Pro-Am 1, the Oman Air, Nawras, National Bank of Oman, Brand Oman, Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs and Oman Ministry of Tourism-backed driver made a very good start but through the complex he was forced back to fourth behind Derek Pierce. Pressuring Pierce massively for the entire 21-lap duration, Ahmad was clearly the quicker of the two but the Scotsman defended very robustly throughout. Challenging hard, the Omani did look to have broken the stern defence on lap 10 on the run up Woodham Hill but Pierce slammed the door shut at the chicane and abruptly delayed Ahmad as he clattered over the kerbs to keep third place. The delay for Ahmad allowed Alex Martin to demote him to fifth in Pro-Am 1 but positions were soon switched when he regained the place almost immediately on lap 11. Again cruising up to the back of Pierce's Porsche, Ahmad pressurised heavily all the way to the flag but in the end had to settle for fourth place - a mere 0.138 seconds adrift. "I think I was maybe too cautious at the start but we definitely had the speed", said Ahmad, "Each lap (Derek) Pierce slowed me down at the complex and the chicane so we had to keep backing off and then lose ground. It's really disappointing knowing you're faster than the car ahead but that you just can't get past. I really wanted the podium but, to be fair to him, he didn't make any mistakes." Making a better start to round six from third in Pro-Am 1, Ahmad maintained the position and pulled well clear of Pierce. In the end, he was over 11 seconds clear of his round five nemesis and within just 1.3 seconds of second in class behind Rory Butcher whom he reeled in during the closing stages. While delighted to be back on the podium again for the fourth time this year in round six, the result of round five is currently under appeal after Ahmad's car was protested by a rival team due to having some trim missing from the bodywork. Having absolutely no bearing on the performance of his Porsche, the complaint will be considered by championship officials in due course. There is now a lengthy five week break in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship calendar with rounds seven and eight of the 2011 season set to take place at Oulton Park Island Circuit in Cheshire over the weekend 4th/5th June. Provisional 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship 'Pro-Am 1' Standings (after Rd6): 1st Jonas Gelzinis, 71pts; 2nd Rory Butcher, 32pts; 3rd Ahmad Al Harthy, 28pts