Qatar's Charlie Frijns of Team Frijns Structural Steel ME during the qualifying at the Al Reem International Circuit outside of Riyadh

By Sports Reporter/Doha


Charlie Frijns (pic) of Team Frijns Structural Steel ME proved that he is ready ahead of Race 1 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as Season 7 of the region’s leading one-make series gets well and truly underway.
After a disappointing season opening race in Bahrain, where Frijns failed to score any points the opening race and came sixth in Race 2, the Qatari resident restored order by claiming third in the qualifying.
After brilliantly negotiating the tight and technical track configuration in a qualifying time of 1:16.658 here at the illustrious Al Reem International Circuit outside of Riyadh.
With a good weekend performance and podium finishes Frijn’s is still very much on course to achieve his season target of winning the drivers title.
More importantly, the qualifying session puts the Doha driver back in a great position ahead of Race 1 of Round 2 in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.
“Today was very important for me to go out and get a strong qualifying time and put myself in a good position ahead of the race. I was so disappointed in Bahrain to have started the race in pole position, but these things happen and now I am even more determined to go out here in Saudi and show people what I can do,” he said.
On the championship’s return to Saudi Arabia, the competition has become fierce. Local hero and former champion Abdulaziz AlFaisal was quickest throughout practice having been cheered on by a passionate local crowd, while Jeffrey Schmidt of the successful Al Nabooda Racing team is looking to maintain is 100 per cent winning record just outside the Saudi capital on the demanding circuit.
“The competition and level of racing in the series now is very tough, so for me it is vital to make every race, practice, and qualifying round count. There is always something to work on, and continuous room for improvement as we found out last weekend in Bahrain.
With drivers like Schmidt and Zaid Ashkanani at Al Nabooda and the guys at Dubai Skydive Falcons, you really can’t afford to make any mistakes out there on the track. I am happy with my qualifying time and now all focus goes into the race, and chance to put what happened in Bahrain behind us for good,” Frijns added.
Charlie Frijns is one half of Qatar’s Team Frijns Structural Steel ME, racing alongside teammate and his father, the vastly experience Rob Frijns. Racing veteran Rob Frijns will look to support where he can for young Charlie on the track as well as secure valuable team points.
After racing in Saudi Arabia, the championships heads to the UAE for three rounds in a row to kick-start the New Year across January and February, closely followed by the return to Bahrain for the climactic conclusion to Season 7 in early March.