The Total UAE GT Championship has turned into a battle ground for the big guns of UAE motorsport. House of Portier with TAM Auto Engineering emerged victors once again when Karim Al Azhari powered to victory in the premier GTA Class, at the wheel of the team’s impressive Corvette Z06-R GT3, in front of a record crowd at Dubai Autodrome. In the late stages of the race he fought off the challenge from Tarek Elgammal and Cabell Fisher (Khaleji Motorsport) who finished second. Emirati driver Khalid Al Qubaisi (Porsche) was third.

Julian Griffin (DXB Dodge Viper) challenged Al Azhari early on, even taking the lead briefly. But the House of Portier Corvette with Al Azhari at the wheel was too strong in the end.

Al Azhari, who also set the fastest lap in the race, said afterwards, “It was good race and win for our House of Portier team. I was surprised with the pace of the Viper in the early stages. And in the later stages of the race Tarek really pushed me hard and I had to work all the way for this victory.”

In the highly competitive Cytech UAE Touring Car Championship Khalid Al Mutawaa in the House of Portier SEAT, who won the first two races of the season last time out in October, was involved in battles for the lead in both races. He managed second in race one and third in race two.

Sixteen year old Mohammed Al Mutawaa continued to impress behind the wheel of the House of Portier Renault Clio in the Cytech UAE Touring Car Championship. He drove maturely in both races to finish fourth behind three pace setting Honda’s and best of the Renault Clio’s in the field.

House of Portier/ TAM Auto Engineering team manager Motaz Abu-Hijleh said of his team’s performance at the Dubai Motorsport Festival, “It was avery good weekend for our team. The battles between the teams were very intense and we feel pressure from teams in both categories. Thus we are very pleased to have Karim Al Azhari win the second race in a row in the Total UAE GT Championship. This was a good team effort with our crew providing a strong car for Karim. He in turn delivered when it mattered.”