Avon Tyres British GT Championship competitor Ahmad Al Harthy delivered one of the best qualifying runs of his maiden season in endurance racing at a rain-hit Snetterton 300 Circuit on Saturday, 15th June, after securing a fourth row start, eighth on the grid, for round five.
Marking his first experience in wet conditions at the wheel of the Oman Air Motorbase Porsche 997 GT3R, the 31-year-old from Muscat was in fantastic form and lapped quicker and quicker during his session to post a best time of 2m06.988 seconds (84.16mph).
With the weather to some extent levelling out the performance disadvantage which Ahmad and team-mate Michael Caine have been forced to battle so far this yeartheir car carrying 75kg of added ballast due to their relative experiencethe duos true qualifying pace shone through far more than it has been able to up to now in 2013.
During Caines session, setting the grid order for round six, the reigning British GT Champion lapped seventh fastest with a time of 2m06.194 seconds (84.69mph) in the Oman Air, Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs, Oman Ministry of Tourism, Nawras, National Bank of Oman and Muscat Eye Laser Center-supported car.
Securing another fourth row starting slot for the second of the weekends two 60-minute races, hopes are high in the Oman Air Motorbase camp of bettering the top four result achieved at Oulton Park on the opening weekend of the season.
It was a tough session, said Ahmad, The track was getting quicker throughout and it was my first time in this car in the wet, so I was learning with every lap. Hopefully we can push in the races, as we always do, and bring home two good results.
Jointly, it was our best qualifying day so far this year so that gives us good confidence for the races, were determined to try and fight for our best results of the season yet. When you look at how well weve gone from much lower starting positions so far this year, were feeling positive.
Following a 10-minute warm-up at 09.00 (UK time) this morning, Sunday, 16th June, round five will begin at 10.45 (UK time) with round six getting underway at 15.00 (UK time). Live timing of the weekends action can be accessed online at www.tsl-timing.co.uk
Provisional 2013 Avon Tyres British GT Championship Standings (after Rd4):=9th Ahmad Al Harthy/Michael Caine, 29pts
