Al Qubaisi to compete in international endurance series

FIA World Endurance Championship features seven, six-hour endurance races in England, Belgium, the United States, China, Japan, Brazil and Bahrain plus the famous Le Mans event in France.

Emirati driver Khalid Al Qubaisi competes in the Qualification 1  at the Dunlop 24H racing at the Dubai Autodrome in Dubai. Satish Kumar / The National
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ABU DHABI // Khalid Al Qubaisi, the first Emirati to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, on Wednesday announced he will join Germany’s Proton Competition Team to compete in this season’s FIA World Endurance Championship.

The international series features seven, six-hour endurance races in England, Belgium, the United States, China, Japan, Brazil and Bahrain plus the famous Le Mans event in France.

“I feel extremely pleased and anxious to take on this endeavour in the first round of this championship, which kicks off in less than a month with the six hours of Silverstone,” said Al Qubaisi at Yas Marina Circuit yesterday. “I feel proud to have been fortunate enough to represent my beloved country in this world renowned endurance race championship.”

Al Qubaisi has become one of the UAE’s top drivers since entering the sport in 2009 in the UAE GT series. He has also raced in the Porsche Carrera Cup, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East and the Mobil 1 Supercup.

His first win was in the Porsche GT3 Cup series at Yas Marina Circuit in the 2010/11 season.

He was the first Emirati driver to be part of a winning team in the Dunlop 24 Hours of Dubai at Dubai Autodrome in January 2012, and repeated that victory with Team Abu Dhabi by Black Falcon last year.

Al Qubaisi, who is managing director of Abu Dhabi Racing, made his competitive debut in the Nurburgring 24 Hours in May 2013 when he linked up with Britain’s Vimal Mehta to finish 19th.

A month later he became the first Emirati driver to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

In December 2013 with Team Abu Dhabi by Black Falcon, he won the Gulf 12 Hours at Yas Marina Circuit.

Al Qubaisi, who is being backed by Emirates Global Aluminium, is ready for his next challenge. “This championship requires serious training and undivided focus to help me develop my performance and tolerance to reach that level of competitiveness this major shift in my sport career requires.”

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