Khaled Al Qubaisi is looking to draw on the experience of his first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year when he once again races at the legendary circuit in France at Round 3 of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), from June 14-15. A member of Proton Competition, the Emirates Global Aluminium (“EGA”)and Abu Dhabi Racing-backed team, Al Qubaisi will be sharing driving duties over 24 hours from 15:00 (UAE time 17:00) with German Christian Ried and Klaus Bachler of Austria.
Endurance veteran Ried has raced at Le Mans on several occasions with Proton Competition, but for young Bachler it will be an entirely new experience.
Also, this is the first season the trio are racing together as a team, and they have already successfully completed round one at Silverstone in the UK and round two at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium – finishing fourth overall in the LMGTE AM class on both occasions.
Al Qubaisi though has been looking forward to next month’s race ever since his first appearance at Le Mans last year, a one-off event he enjoyed so thoroughly that he promised himself he would be back in 2014.
While last year was all about getting to know the circuit and gaining experience racing with the best in the business, this year Al Qubaisi is doing a full season with Proton Competition and the team is aiming to be on the podium at some stage during the 2014 campaign of the WEC behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 RSR.
Recalling his 2013 experience, Al Qubaisi says: “Le Mans last year was amazing, I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the whole week prior to the race. On race day I felt very tense and anxious because it was my first time in such a big race.”
Al Qubaisi, added: “It was very challenging at the beginning, but I got used to it with each stint. I particularly enjoyed the last sting the most as I was doing driving duty. In my mind I thought I will definitely miss racing here once this is over!”
That Al Qubaisi wanted to get back to the Le Mans track was decided even before the 2013 race ended on Sunday, June 23, the Abu Dhabi driver recalling: “When the race was nearing its end, all I was thinking about was doing it again the next year and that I couldn’t wait. Now I am extremely glad I am able to again race at Le Mans, where I will go this time with more experience and better prepared than last year.”
The Le Mans carnival officially gets under way on June 1 with the first test day while administrative checks and scrutineering of vehicles will be held over two days, from June 8 and 9.
On June 10, organizers have lined up a drivers’ autograph session – the only opportunity to actually meet up with some of the best in the world.
Free Practice will be held on June 11 and the qualifying session for the 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place on June 12.
No cars will be allowed on the track on June 13, but the pit lanes will be thrown open from dawn to dusk where ticket holders get the opportunity to have a close look at all the 56 cars that will line up for the 24-hour race from June 14-15.