For Rounds 9 and 10 of the Gulf Radical Cup it ran in support of the Asian Le Mans series at the Dubai Autodrome.
While it's great to share the same event as such series as ALMS, F3 Asia and F4 UAE, it does mean that track time is tight for all. This meant that testing was reduced to just 45 minutes on the Thursday. But it was the same for everyone, so Qualifying would only really be the first time we get to see the real pace of the grid.
However, persistent, thick morning fog had been covering the circuit the last few days and Friday was no exception! This meant a delayed start to the day, also meaning that Friday afternoon would see what is normally done over two days, done in just one afternoon!
Q1 finally got underway, and all eyes were on the top three contenders for the series. That was Alex Khateeb, Ian Roberts and Tarik Kerbouci. And sure enough it was those three drivers fighting for the top places, however Khateeb was able to put in a stunning 2:02.867, with Kerbouci on a 2:04.469 for second and Roberts on a 2:04.594 for third. Putting in a great performance was James Sweetnam on a 2:05.211 for fourth getting ever closer to the top three, 5th was Emirati racer Alhameedi on a 2:05.817.
Q2 again saw the experienced Khateeb on pole, but this time it was Roberts for second and Kerbouci for third.
Race 1 started only an hour later, and it was a great start for Kerbouci in his bright yellow Monster Experience/Ellington Properties SR3 XX taking and early lead from Khateeb. Due to the rush between Q2 and Race 1, Ian Roberts (now running with Dragon Racing), just missed the 5 minute window to get out the pitlane before the grid formed up, so this meant he had to start from the pitlane, but he was pushing hard from the back!
After a couple laps of chasing, Khateeb got right on the tail of Kerbouci, and after a small error out of turn 9, Khateeb was past into the lead. Meanwhile Roberts was making his charge from the back of the grid and was working his way to the front. In Roberts favour was zero time added in the pit stop from the last race, where as Kerbouci was carrying 5 seconds and Khatteb the maximum 15.
Into the pitstops, and all the cars have a 9 minute window to get in, wait for their allocated time and get out, as fast as possible! Or, if a two driver team, as was the case for visiting LMP2 drivers, John Corbett and Neale Muston, do a speedy driver change!
First in from the lead group was Kerbouci, a few laps later in was Khateeb, and as Khateeb rushed out of the pitlane he was just ahead of Kerbouci. However it seemed like Kerbouci quickly dropped off the back of Khateeb, and was posting times 2 or 3 seconds off his normally quick, constant pace. A small gearbox issue had developed and it meant that he was predominantly stuck in only 4th gear in the slow corners, but despite this he pushed on knowing that he had the charging Roberts and Alhameedi behind him. Soon, and taking of advantage of no pit penalty, Roberts was passed Alhameedi (who had 10 seconds added in the pits) and then Kerbouci, and was chasing down Khateeb for the lead.
Alhameedi was flying and it was looking like he would catch Kerbouci right at the end of the race. Just then a 5 second penalty flashed up on the timing screens for Alhameedi for repeated track limit infringements. This meant that even if Alhameedi was to pass Kerbouci for third, he just had to hang on to within 5 seconds of the Emirati racer. Alhameedi did get past and crossed the line 5.7 seconds ahead of Kerbouci, keeping third place. So it was a win for Khateeb, second for Roberts and third for Alhameedi.
There was just under two hours for the teams to turn around the car for race two, fix any damage or mechanical issue.
As all the cars approached the start line it was again a great start for Kerbouci and Roberts over the pole sitter Khateeb. However Khateeb was chasing hard and was able to slip through at turn 7. This left Kerbouci and Alhameedi fighting for second, but also allowing Roberts in 4th to get closer as they squabbled on track! Alhameedi tried to make a pass into the slow turn 10 hairpin, but Kerbouci, while leaving the door open for him went very deep on the brakes forcing Alhameedi to go deeper and inevitably running wide allowing Kerbouci to retake 2nd, some great racing!
Alhameedi was not giving up though, and chasing hard to get back to Kerbouci, but again another five second penalty flashed up on the timing screen for the 76 car, this time for a start line infringement, no luck for him today! He made another attempt on Kerbouci into turn 7, but this time there was less room and he collided with Kerbouci, pushing him off over the kerb. This was rich pickings for Roberts who slipped through leaving Kerbouci down to 4th.
Roberts was then able to slip through at turn 10 to take 2nd, but as Alhameedi ran wide at turn 11 it allowed Kerbouci to slip through to 3rd. But there was damage for Kerbouci, with his suspension being knocked out of alignment and Alhammedi had signifiant side pod damage.
As the pitstops came about Roberts was first in, then race leader Khateeb, finally Kerbouci. Again with the pit time penalty jumbling up the order, Kerbouci was able to leap ahead of Roberts, and get right back up to race leader Khateeb as they again left the pitlane nose to tail.
However with Kerbouci struggling with his damaged suspension he we was not able to hang onto Khateeb, and it left Roberts charging hard to try and retake 2nd place. As Roberts pulled Kerbouci in the clock was ticking down, in the end it was Khateeb for his second win of the day, Kerbouci held on for 2nd and Roberts had to settle for third, but only 0.4 seconds behind him.
So with 4 races left, and double points for the last two races, there are still a potential maximum of 168 points to be had, and with only 66 points covering the top four drivers, its still wide open!
The Gulf Radical Cup is back to the Dubai Autodrome on the 4th of March for Round 11 and 12.
