Al Manar Racing's Al Zubair and Klingmann aim to bounce back in France
The BMW M4 GT3 EVO duo suffered a minor setback to their title challenge when they sustained an accident and then a fourth-place finish in the two sprint races at Misano recently. The Omani and his German team-mate now hold fifth place in the Gold Cup's Drivers' and Teams' Championships with 49 points, but a strong showing in France would catapult the duo back into title contention.
Emil Frey Racing's Chris Lulham and Thierry Vermeulen lead the way on 77.5 points from Sainteloc Racing (63.5 points) and Tresor Attempto Racing (54 points). The Garage 59 Team are fourth on 51.5 points.
Oman-based Al Zubair said: 'Really looking forward to Magny-Cours. It's actually a track I've never raced on before. It will definitely not be an easy track for us. We tested there in March so, hopefully, that plays into our hands a little. With the experience we have got with the car, we should hopefully aim for a positive weekend.
'As always, we aim for a podium. We know it won't be easy. But we need to secure some good points for the championship. Misano was a bit difficult after the first race to not score any points. Now we must focus on scoring points this weekend.'
The Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours is located in central France, near the towns of Magny-Cours and Nevers. It staged the Formula One French Grand Prix between 1991 and 2008 and also hosts the Superbike World Championship.
A 40-car field of GT World Challenge Europe competitors will share the 4.411km circuit this weekend with entrants in the FFSA French GT Championship, FFSA French Touring Car Championship and FFSA F4, the Alpine Elf Cup series and the Clio Cup series.
Free practice for the GT World Challenge entrants starts at 13.20hrs on Friday (August 1st) and precedes pre-qualifying from 20.45hrs.
Qualifying for the first of the one-hour Sprint races is scheduled for 14.15hrs on Saturday and race one will get the green light from 20.45hrs. Spectators will then be able to access the pit area from 22.00hrs.
The second qualifying session will take place from 09.00hrs on Sunday and precedes another pit walk for spectators from 13.30hrs. The second of the one-hour races will fire into life at 15.00hrs.
TEAMS – latest Gold Cup standings
1. Emil Frey Racing 77.5 pts
2. Sainteloc Racing 63.5 pts
3. Tresor Attempto Racing 54 pts
4. Garage 59 51.5 pts
5. Al-Manar Racing by Team WRT 49 pts
6. CSA Racing 9 pts
7. Barwell Motorsport 4.5 pts
DRIVERS – latest Gold Cup standings
1. Chris Lulham/Thierry Vermeulen 77.5 pts
2. Gilles Magnus/Paul Evrard 63.5 pts
3. Sebastian Ogaard/Leonardo Moncini 54 pts
4. Louis Prette 51.5 pts
5. Al Faisal al Zubair/Jens Klingmann 49 pts
6. Thomas Fleming 26 pts
7. Adam Smalley 25.5 pts
8. Arthur Rougier/James Kell 9 pts
9. Bijoy Garg/Ricky Collard 4.5 pts
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
13 hours ago
- Observer
The quiet revolution as EVs charge ahead
I resisted purchasing an electric vehicle, or EV as they are known now, for years, for the most irrational of reasons: I couldn't stand the arrogance of Elon Musk and couldn't stand the thought that I may be contributing to his insane wealth and his wholly objectionable lifestyle. I don't think I've ever let someone, who I've never met and never will, get under my skin so much. And you must admit that his ubiquitous arrogance and supercilious entitlement, rank his face amongst the world's most 'punchable' But last week, I made the decision... and purchased my very first EV. It's not special, second-hand, of Chinese manufacture, it's an SUV with the higher driving position offering greater ease of entry and exit. Like all EVs, it's an automatic and has all the safer driving technology available in the marketplace today. I opted for an extended vehicle warranty and service contract with the dealership to minimise maintenance costs going forward and even though I'm still very much in the 'honeymoon' period, I'm enjoying being an EV driver. My purpose here is not to sell, or convince anyone to 'go electric', as such, but rather to ease you through some of the questions we all have as we consider 'yay' or 'nay', and in any case, I don't see the demand for petrol and diesel falling off a cliff overnight, as developing nations will be utilising both for many decades ahead, so don't worry Oman, the oil and gas industry will not disappear overnight and the Omani government has indicated that their forward planning towards an EV driven future is well in hand. Until recently, one of the greatest limiting factors facing EVs was vehicle cost. Of course, the earliest EVs were ridiculously expensive, two and three times the cost of conventional motors. However today, the difference is diminishing significantly, to around 30 per cent more and industry sources in the UK are expecting the growing market for EVs to result in a genuine levelling up between now and 2030. The latter date was to be the UK's final year in which petrol and diesel vehicles could be manufactured or sold new, though this date has been extended to 2035 to ensure sufficient charging infrastructure is provided. In fact, working towards the targeted 300,000 public charging points across the UK, by the July 1 this year only 82,002 all-access charge points had been commissioned. Balancing that, more than 1 million motorists have installed home fast-charger units which cost around RO 500 installed, or much slower trickle-charging three-pin chargers, affectionately termed 'granny-chargers', at around half that cost. Significantly, one major energy supplier is promoting discounts for electricity usage between 11:30 pm and 5:30 am, from 140 baisas per kWh, down to 35 baisas per kWh and with integrated app controls this is genuine economy. EV sales are rapidly accelerating across the major UK and European dealerships with more than one and a half million EVs now on the UK's roads, with half a million EVs sold during the 12 months to July this year alone. Change is afoot and I have graduated from an interested onlooker, to an enthusiastic advocate, a journey many more will take in the future. Motor industry CEO Carlos Ghosn says 'the time is not just right, but critical', and I guess he was speaking from marketing and environmental perspectives in the same breath, which could be seen as contradictive. However, what we should be thinking is that we were suspicious of and resisted, planes, trains and automobiles, computers, mobile phones, internet banking and the like, for decades... until we accepted their benefits outweighed the negatives. That's the thing about progress isn't it? Like time, it marches on, relentless, obstinate, unyielding in its determination and is rarely wrong, unlike we mortals. Will you join the revolution and get ahead of the EV curve? I did and it is so much fun!
Observer
14 hours ago
- Observer
Masirah Club clinched Chess Clubs championship
MUSCAT, AUGUST 2 Masirah Club Team (A) was crowned champion of the General Chess Clubs Championship after successfully overturning the overall standings in the final rounds, snatching the lead from Salalah Club (A), which had topped the table midway through the competition. Masirah managed to collect 29 points, placing them at the summit of the standings, while Salalah (A) settled for second place. The championship, organised by the Oman Chess Committee, lasted eight days and concluded at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex Hall in Bausher. The tournament, played under the Swiss system of nine rounds with a time control of 90 minutes plus a 30 second increment per move, was filled with excitement and challenges among 100 male and female players representing 20 teams from 13 clubs. All rounds saw strong competition, especially in the eighth and ninth rounds, where leading teams fought to secure decisive points for the top spots. Masirah (A) sealed the title in the final round, while Nakhal Club delivered a major surprise by taking third place, surpassing teams that had been in the lead. At the awarding ceremony, Ahmed bin Darwish al Balushi, Chairman of the Oman Chess Committee, honoured the winning clubs. Masirah (A) received the gold medal, the championship cup, and a cash prize after scoring 29 points. Salalah (A) took the silver medal and a cash prize with 25 points, while Nakhal (A) finished third with the bronze medal and a cash prize, scoring 22.5 points on tiebreak. Masirah (B) placed fourth, while Salalah (B) came fifth. Ahmed al Balushi expressed his satisfaction with the technical level of the tournament, saying "throughout the championship days, we witnessed a high level of competition that reflects the significant development of the game within the Sultanate of Oman. What distinguishes this edition is the balance of power among the clubs, as positions changed right up to the final round. This is clear evidence of the closeness in technical levels." He added "the committee is working under a clear strategy to develop the game. Through these tournaments, we aim to discover talents and refine them through competition and exposure, in preparation for integrating outstanding players into the national team to represent the Sultanate of Oman in international championships. Our goal is to see Omani players achieve international titles and enhance the Sultanate of Oman's global standing in chess." He concluded by saying "we thank all clubs and players for their commitment and sportsmanship, and we also appreciate the support of partner entities that contributed to the championship's success. We look forward to future tournaments with higher levels of performance and wider participation." The Oman Chess Committee affirmed that the championship aims to create a truly competitive environment among clubs and measure players' technical levels, noting that these competitions, over their past editions, have contributed to developing players' abilities, particularly in the general category, which has been reflected in achieving advanced results in international rankings.
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Oman Desert Marathon opens registration for 2026 edition
MUSCAT, AUGUST 1 Oman's trailblazing desert marathon race has opened registration for its 2026 edition. The organisers Omania Adventure are gearing up to host the desert race in the golden sands of the Wilayat of Bidiyah, Al Sharqiyah North Governorate, where endless dunes meet the horizon. The 11th Oman Desert Marathon (ODM) is set to take place from January 10 to 14, 2026. Over the years, the ultra-marathon has become far more than just a running competition. Positioned as a unique journey to discover remote, untouched sands and the highest dunes of the Omani Desert, the event blends technical racing, cultural immersion, alongside Omani hospitality across a desert-to-sea route. Registration is now open for multiple distances including marathon (42 km), half marathon (21 km), 10 km, 5 km and kids race. The announcement follows the race's prominent feature in the May issue of Runners World Germany, one of Europe's most prestigious running publications. The extensive coverage in Runners World Germany represents a significant milestone for Oman's flagship ultra-running event, validating ODM's position among the world's most exceptional desert racing experiences. This international recognition highlights Oman's growing reputation as a premier destination for adventure tourism and ultra-endurance sports. Participants during the additional races. — Yahya al Hajri RACE DETAILS AND REGISTRATION With expanded inclusivity efforts in place for next year, the ODM has confirmed details for its 2026 edition. The 2026 edition features multiple challenging desert crossing options: 165 km Classic Ultra: A five-stage self-supported ultra-marathon following ancient caravan routes from historic Al Wasil Fort, culminating at the shores of the Arabian Sea. 100 km Desert Hike: An accessible introduction to desert adventure covering the same legendary route, also finishing at the sea. Additional race distances — including 42 km, 21 km, 10 km, 5 km and a 2 km kids race — are now open for registration, providing opportunities for runners of all abilities to experience the magic of Oman's desert landscape. The race promotes Oman as a destination for adventure tourism, drawing elite and amateur runners globally. Notable local participants include top athletes from the Royal Army of Oman, such as Hamdan al Khatri, Saleh al Saidi and Ghaith al Saadi, as well as civilian talents such as Khalid al Jabri, all of whom have also competed internationally on the ultra-running circuit. CHAMPIONING FEMALE INCLUSION The 2026 Oman Desert Marathon has earned SheRACES accreditation, providing official recognition that the event meets the highest standards for female inclusion in ultra-running. This certification addresses a critical need in the sport, where despite women consistently excelling in trail and ultra races, female participation remains at only 16 per cent of race participants. 'As women, we face unique barriers and concerns that men don't even consider', mentions Rigel Cedeno, project manager and former participant of the Oman Desert Marathon. 'We are proud to make it easier for other women to discover both the raw beauty of the desert and their own incredible strength'. With the support of Race Director Said al Hajri, the ODM is now a SheRACES accredited event — the only race in the Middle East to achieve this recognition. An organiser during the 2025 edition of Oman Desert Marathon. — Ian Corless DOCUMENTARY PREMIERE The race's commitment to inclusivity was highlighted at an exclusive documentary premiere on July 10 in Barcelona, Spain. 'From Snow to the Desert' (Dela Nieve al Desierto), a compelling 25-minute documentary, chronicles the remarkable story of Pol Makuri, a Spanish Paralympic athlete with hemiparesis who became the first person with disabilities to complete the 165 km Oman Desert Marathon. Pol and Albert were the first to test Salomon's revolutionary trail running shoe prototype in the real conditions of the Rimal Al Sharqiya during the Oman Desert Marathon 2024 edition. 'Pol's infectious enthusiasm and authentic storytelling reminded us exactly why we created ODM — to push boundaries, test limits and emerge stronger', said event organisers. Makuri, competing alongside journalist Albert Jorquera in January 2024, finished third as a team in the demanding self-supporting stage race. Their achievement demonstrates that ODM's 'no runner left behind' philosophy genuinely extends to athletes of all abilities. The premiere at the Teatre Ateneu d'Igualada offered a window into the raw beauty and harshness of the desert and into the profound human connection that arises when challenges are shared. A heartfelt discussion followed with both protagonists, joined by ODM's Said al Hajri along with Rigel Cedeno Gamarra — both of whom travelled from Oman to be present for this meaningful celebration of human perseverance. The documentary can be watched on YouTube under the name 'Dela Nieve al Desierto' with subtitles available in English and Arabic. The documentary was made possible thanks to the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology — Sultanate of Oman and the Oman Desert Marathon dedicated team. Pictures by Ian Corless
