Ellinas grabs double pole for Porsche GT3 Cup final round

Tio Ellinas of Cyprus grabbed pole position for both races this weekend in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.

The first 10-lap sprint is scheduled for Saturday at 11.55am at Bahrain International Circuit, while Race Two will then be held on Sunday.

The meeting, being held in support of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2019, is the final round of the Porsche GT3 Cup’s 2018/2019 season, and it will confirm the series’ new champions.

Ellinas had a best lap time of 2m 01.881s around BIC’s 5.412-kilometre track to top Qualifying. His second best lap time of 2m 02.024s also earned him the leading grid starting place for Race Two.

Practice pace-setter Dylan Pereira from the Netherlands secured the other front row grid position for the opening sprint. His best lap was 0.114s behind Ellinas. Berkay Besler of Turkey qualified third 0.166s off the pace.

Championship leader Al Faisal Al Zubair of Oman, who is the title favourite, will start from fourth on the grid with a lap 0.211s back.

All four drivers are competing in the Pro class.

In the ProAm, Leon Koehler leads the field while in the Am category, it is Michael Knutzon of Sweden.

For Race Two, alongside Ellinas on row one will be Al Zubair. Behind them in the third and fourth starting positions will be Besler and Pereira.