The BIC Chief Executive is in a record line-up of 18 drivers for the first visit of the Porsche one-make series to Losail International Circuit, starting with Round 9 on Friday and continuing with Round 10 tomorrow evening.
He will be contesting the bronze class Mobil 1 Trophy in a field headed by Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz Al Faisal who is looking to take another step towards a second overall Porsche GT3 Cup title in three years.
For Sheikh Salman, the chance to appear in the Middle East’s headline race series is based on his friendship with Walter Lechner, head of Lechner Racing who run the 12-round championship for Porsche MEA and have had a base at BIC for the last three years.
“It’s a great pleasure to be part of Walter’s championship and I am really looking forward to it,” he said. “I have always wanted to support him because he has created such a fantastic race series for the Middle East.”
Shaikh Salman will be making his second appearance at Losail after contesting a Supercar event there in 2006, although it will be his first night race under the circuit’s permanent outdoor lighting. His year-round responsibilities at BIC headed by planning and overseeing the Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, mean that his own racing experience has been limited.
His first race outing came when he appeared as a VIP driver in the 2005 Porsche Supercup, and this was followed by a 24-hour event later the same year, both in Bahrain. His last competitive track appearance came during the Dubai 24 Hours race in 2009 when he sampled night racing for the first time.
“I don’t think it makes such a difference because the lighting is strong on the track and it’s almost like driving in daylight,” he said. “It’s a while since I got into a GT3 Cup car and so I’m approaching this as if it’s my first time, and haven’t set any targets.
“You cannot walk into something like this with any great expectation as that’s where mistakes can be made. This is a championship in which the standard of racing has reached a very high level, and the top drivers are unbelievable. What I also like about the GT3 Cup series is the great atmosphere that exists between all the drivers. When they pull on their helmets and go out on the track they are highly competitive. Half an hour later they are friends enjoying a cup of coffee.”
After Qatar, the 2011-12 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East reaches its climax at Bahrain International Circuit which hosts the final two rounds on March 30-31.