Muscat’s Ahmad Al Harthy produced his best and most competitive qualifying performance of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship season at Snetterton 300 Circuit on Saturday, 22nd August, to secure a richly deserved front row start for round seven of the campaign.
As the 2015 championship nears its conclusion, with just one event remaining after this weekend’s pair of 60-minute contests in East Anglia, the Oman Racing Team driver is determined to climb back onto the rostrum for the first time since the Rockingham race meeting in May.
Set to begin the first of today’s races from second on the grid, 33-year-old Ahmad – who shares driving duties in the No.2 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 this weekend with new team-mate Alex MacDowall – certainly has a tremendous opportunity to make his aim a reality.
In the fight for the round seven pole position throughout his 10 minute qualifying session, Ahmad set a benchmark of 1m50.977 seconds before then lowering his time to a best of 1m50.150 seconds, securing provisional pole position initially before being pipped by a mere 0.026 seconds. So close was the shoot-out, only 0.056 seconds separated the top three cars.
“It’s definitely my best qualifying of the year, I’m really delighted with P2 on the grid for the first race – it’s where we want to be and where we need to be”, said the Oman Air, Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs, Ooredoo, National Bank of Oman and Al Hashar Group-backed driver.
“The car felt great, we’ve moved it forward since the last round, and my lap was the best I could do for sure. My session was unbelievably close between the top three, we almost had pole position but the front row is fantastic and a real boost for everyone.”
Aston Martin ‘works’ driver MacDowall, drafted into the Oman Racing Team this weekend to partner Ahmad, qualified 13th quickest in the round eight session. Normally piloting a GTE specification car in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the GT3-spec Aston is a different prospect but the Briton undoubtedly brings important experience to the team.
Going into today’s two one-hour encounters, which will both be screened live on Motors TV, Ahmad holds the lead in the Silver Cup standings while he is sixth in the outright British GT title battle. In the entrant standings, the Oman Racing Team is in second position.
“It’s been good working with Alex for the first time”, said the Aston Martin Middle East and North Africa ambassador, “The GTE Aston he normally races in World Endurance is different to our GT3 car, so there are things to adjust to, but we’re hoping for two good, strong races this weekend. Alex has a lot of experience and is a proven, quick driver – I can’t wait for the first race to begin.”
Round seven of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship will get underway at 12.55 (local time) with round eight scheduled to commence at 16.30 (local time).
Provisional 2015 Avon Tyres British GT Championship GT3 Driver Standings: 6th Ahmad Al Harthy, 46pts
Provisional 2015 Avon Tyres British GT Championship GT3 Silver Cup: 1st Ahmad Al Harthy, 81.5pts
Provisional 2015 Avon Tyres British GT Championship GT3 Team Standings: 2nd Oman Racing Team, 156.5pts
