With a thrilling finale the Audi R8 LMS Cup came to a close on Saturday evening at the Yas Marina Circuit. Alex Yoong has been crowned 2014 Audi R8 LMS Cup champion after securing victory in the final race in Abu Dhabi. Andre Couto and the only lady in the field, Rahel Frey, wrapped up the championship in second and third. The explosive race with lots of back-and-forth between Yoong and close championship rival André Couto underlined the intense drama that has unfolded throughout the season. It took the 12th and final race to decide who would take the championship.
Team Audi Middle East with Khaled Al Qubaisi and Saeed Al Mehairi finished 16th and 8th respectively. The Emirati drivers took on the challenge sporting starting number 43 in honor of the 43rd anniversary of the UAE. “That was a fantastic weekend of racing”, Trevor Hill, Managing Director of Audi Middle East said. “You could witness the competitiveness of the Audi R8 LMS Cup this weekend – five cars within seconds. And our drivers did a fantastic job.”
Khaled Al Qubaisi and Saeed Al Mehairi shared one cockpit in the one-make sprint racing series that was held in the Middle East for the very first time. Khaled Al Qubaisi took on the challenge in the second to last round on Friday, while Saeed Al Mehairi showed that he is a worthy contender in the championship in Saturday’s finale. For both Emirati drivers it was the first experience in the GT3 customer racing car. In qualifying on Friday both drivers took positions 12th and 13th respectively in a field of overall 20 drivers.
In round 11 Khaled Al Qubaisi delivered a solid race with a constant speed, being on 10th position throughout the race. After overtaking Jeffrey Lee tough luck struck. Khaled collided with Lee, his car spun and he had to restart the car. He crossed the finish line in 16th position. “It was a great race. I had a very nice competition and a fight with a few cars, it was a little bit aggressive at the beginning, but I avoided trouble and managed to keep a good pace until the end. Unfortunately I had a small contact with Lee then. But it’s been really great to do this race and I thank Audi Middle East and Abu Dhabi Racing for this opportunity. If I get the chance again, I will definitely race for Audi again.”
Saeed Al Mehairi started in 14th place and worked himself up to a top 10 position in a very tight race on Saturday. Driving the Audi R8 LMS for the very first time he was facing some issues with the set-up. “I’m very happy and pleased with my final result. I started in position 14 and I finished in position 8, and this was a sprint race, not an endurance race. I was facing some issues with the car during the race, so I had to change my driving style a bit. But it was a great experience for me, a good challenge and a good race and I’d like to thank Audi Middle East and Abu Dhabi Racing for making this possible.”
Talking about a possible return of the Audi R8 LMS Cup to the Middle East, Trevor Hill said: “We are in talks now with the organizers what is possible, so watch this space. And we will definitely knock on Khaled’s and Saeed’s door again, if the Cup returns to the Middle East.”
Rene Koneberg, Director of Audi Sport customer racing Asia added: “I’m very glad to have the Audi R8 LMS Cup here in Abu Dhabi, especially the season finale. We saw some intense racing today and some fine battles between Andre Couto and Alex Yoong. For me the season was extremely interesting as we expanded to other countries and being here in Abu Dahbi was one of my highlights. And it was amazing to see how quickly Khaled Al Qubaisi and Saeed Al Mehairi adapted to the car. They stepped into the car and instantly knew what to do. I can see a bright future for racing in the Middle East. The feedback from all our drivers was fantastic and it would be great to come back to the region.”
Alex Yoong:
“I put André under a lot of pressure today. It paid off! I am just happy I won the championship.”
André Couto:
“It was a great season. I gave it everything. I wanted to be champion. I’m happy with my performance.”
Rahel Frey:
“It was a very eventful race! It was really fun and I’m sure it was great to watch! I’m disappointed I couldn’t win the championship, but I’m happy with getting third overall. Congratulations to both Alex and André – they both drove so well throughout the season and they deserve to be at the top. Well done to Alex for winning it!”