Young racing sensation Al Faisal Al Zubair, who continues to dominate Porsche BWT GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, is in a celebratory mode as he awaits his milestone 10th season
What are your personal and professional expectations from the New Year?
Personally, and professionally, my goal is to win for the second time the championship title of the Porsche BWT GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. I was over the moon when I won the championship title for Season 9 and I can’t wait to celebrate the same feeling in 2019. It will also be extra special as this is a milestone 10th season!
While my eye is on the prize, I’m also going after securing a record number of wins in a season. Some of the new racing drivers this year have definitely increased the level of competition, but I’m always in for a new challenge.
I also hope to have better luck in Porsche Supercup this year when the racing season starts around May. Last year, it was just not going towards our favour, but with more practice during this racing series, I hope we get better results.
From a racing perspective, how would you define the year that has gone by?
Honestly, really amazing. I’m very happy with how the year has gone by – I won my first championship in GT racing, Season 9 of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. And for the landmark Season 10 of the Porsche BWT GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, I have secured five out of six wins with Round 2 ending in three pole positions and three race wins.
I’m also grateful that I went back to my studies this year. It’s something I have been wanting to do and now I’m glad that I’m on that path. I’m currently studying business management and law in London. Finding that balance between my racing career and education has kept me feeling very positive. Going into 2019, I’m just excited for what is to come.
Do you see the New Year throwing any challenges or opportunities in the field of motor racing?
2019 is going to be my milestone year. It will be the third year in GT racing. My results from Season 10 of Porsche BWT GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East and Porsche Supercup will play an impactful role in my future of racing career in 2020. I know I want to be in endurance racing, but all of these factors will help determine our next steps. This is one of the main reasons why I’m very determined, this year more than ever, to finish top and giving it all.
The Porsche BWT GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East is not getting easier – the competition levels are on a high – and I know we will have guest drivers to fuel up more action on the track. The new format of this year’s season is also more challenging, as championship organisers Lechner Racing have introduced four further races.
That said, while I’m very happy for new challenges, I know I need to keep focus on my racing to enjoy these good battles throughout the season.
I don’t want to just win races, but also learn from every race. This is why I’m even happier with my wins this year.
I wouldn’t necessarily call anything in racing a challenge, but I take it with the mindset of whatever comes we will take the challenge and hopefully come on top.
Any words of advice to gear up for the New Year on a positive footing?
I always believe that you get the results of the work you are putting. Always a direct correlation… I also believe that a way to success is to have all the small and big things in place for me to be in the right mental place.
I think through racing, I can relate to all other things in life. Racing is a very mental game. There is a perception that it’s purely a skill of driving, but I believe it’s all mental and is dependent on who is stronger in the head. And for me, a good mental state begins with staying positive and everything else will come around. That’s how I go about life and that’s what I would like to pass on.
* Born and raised in Muscat, Al Faisal Al Zubair started early on in competitive karting before making his way up through the junior single seater categories in the United Kingdom. By 2016, he was participating in the British Formula 3 (F3) series. Later that year, he gained entry to the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, finishing in first place in Round 11 in Bahrain and winning the series ‘GCC Rookie of the Year’ crown.
