In one of the toughest competitions in the history of the race, team ‘tolimit arabia’ achieved an amazing fourth place and only hardly missed the podium of the 24 hour race in Dubai. Due to a technical problem that required a change of the drive shaft, the team lost 27 minutes during the night. Having fallen back on position 11 therefore, the team fought back to position 4 in an exciting catch-up race and finished as the best Porsche team.

Khaled Al Qubaisi, the team’s local hero and first sports car driver with Abu Dhabi origins, is satisfied with the result: “Being the first 24 hour race that ‘tolimit arabia’ competed in, it was only for a technical problem that we didn’t win the race. It was a very good result for us as a team. We showed that we are a winning squad.”

Sascha Maassen, former Porsche works driver and experienced endurance racer comments: “Looking back on the race, I have a laughing and a crying eye. In terms of performance, we could have won. With our only technical problem, we lost 13 laps, however, finished as the best of the Porsche teams. Nevertheless, taking in mind that this was our first 24 hour race together as a team, it is a great result.”

Sean Edwards, British Porsche specialist and guarantee for constantly quick lap times adds: “It was a great combat and the issue we had was out of our hands. The team changed the drive shaft in less than half an hour which is an astonishing achievement. So fourth place is the best result we could have hoped for due to this technical problem. I would like to thank the whole team and my co-drivers for the great work and the great experience.

Jeroen Bleekemolen, latest acquisition of the team and former Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup winner with comprehensive endurance experience says: “Unfortunately, we faced the problem with the drive shaft. Otherwise, we would have won the race. The team was well prepared and the pace was there, so we were a bit unlucky. But for our first 24 hour race in this team and driver combination it was a very good result. Although I obviously would have preferred to win.”

Team Manager Michael Seifert is satisfied: “It was a great race with a great team effort. 18 pit stops and a change of the drive shaft in less than half an hour: I can’t thank the team enough for the great performance. Staying concentrated for 24 hours is always tough, but today we showed that we can be a winning combination.”

Tolimit managing director Hans-Bernd Kamps adds:”What a great competition. With almost 90 cars on the grid, works squads from Mercedes and top drivers such as former DTM champions and works drivers, we finished as the best Porsche teams and were only slowed down due to a technical issue. Thanks to our partners from SR Technics, aabar and Cable Tech for their support. We are sure we delivered an exciting race once around the clock.”

A 52‘ highlight program of the Dubai 24 hours will be shown in more than 150 countries on channels such as Motors TV, ESPN Asia, ESPN Latin America, Fox Sports America, Fox Sports Latin America, Fox Sports Australia, Fox Sports Middle East, SuperSport Africa, Sky Sports (GER/AUT), Motorvision TV (GER), Sky Sports (GBR), Channel 5 (GBR), Teleclub (SUI), Ma Chaine Sport (FRA), TVE Teledeporte (SPA), Sport TV (POR), Novasports (GRE), Sport TV (SLO), Nova Sport (CZE), Sport 5 (CZE), Mix TV (BRA) and Abu Dhabi Sports Channel (Middle East).

With victory in the GT3 class of the Vallelunga 6 hours, Tolimit Arabia drivers Sean Edwards, Khaled Al Qubaisi and Sascha Maassen sucessfully completed their shakedown for the Dubai 24 hours in January. They fought hard throughout the race, starting only in 10th place, Sean clawed his way upto 4th place overall by the first pitstop. Khaled did a great stint and handed over to Sascha who again drove without fault. The last stint was again Khaled and he bought the car home in once piece, winning the GT3 class and coming 5th overall, just ahead of the AF Corsa car of Giancarlo Fisichella!

The race went really smoothly and everyone did a good job, we can now build on this result and improve on the areas we are weak in. This was Tolimit’s first endurance race, so there is a lot to learn, but they did a very good job for the first event.” Commented Sean after the race. “We had some issues with the gearbox near the end, but we know what it is and hopefully this will not happen in Dubai.”

The car will now be shipped off to the UAE ready for the Dubai 24 hours in January, where the team is again looking to win the race.

Sean Edwards (far left) goes four wide down the front straight!

‘Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit‘ driver, Sean Edwards, clinched second place at the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup season finale in Monza as teammate Sascha Maassen clawed back four places to end 12th, leaving the outfit in fourth overall for the 2010 Team Championship.

Starting the day’s action in fifth from the grid, Edwards put in a sterling display on the 5.7 kms long ‘Autodromo Nazionale’ to clinch his second podium finish in as many races. “The car was really great in qualifying. Position two or three would have easily been possible. Unfortunately, I was held up in both of my fast laps,” said the enigmatic Briton.

“This was one of the craziest races in my whole life with a lot of overtaking, which was quite confusing. Our car was super-fast and I was finally able to put myself behind Nick Tandy in second position. It’s great to be fourth in the team championship. It was a fantastic first season with ‘Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit’ and I hope to win the next one,” added Edwards, who finished sixth overall in the Drivers’ Championship.

German veteran Maassen experienced a weekend of mixed feelings at Monza. In qualifying, the driver took position 16, one second behind the leader. In the race, the 40-year-old family man ended in 12th – meaning he finishes six positions behind Edwards in the Drivers’ Championship. “It was a typical Monza-race. A lot of pushing and shoving. You can’t catch up that much if you constantly have to fight against your colleagues, however, you are having a lot of fun,” said Maassen.

‘Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit’s’ Emirati driver Khaled Al Qubaisi experienced an unfortunate last race, after a mistimed braking manoeuvre saw the 34-year-old Abu Dhabi resident spin out on to the gravel.

“The qualifying was not that good. In the first fast lap, I pushed too hard. In the second, I was able to improve, however, was held up by a competitor which cost me half a second,” said Al Qubaisi, who now completes his first competitive season with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority-backed outfit.

“At first it went well in the race and I was able to set a fastest lap in the first sector of the race. I am proud that I can now contest with some competitors that beat me at the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, I made a braking mistake when overtaking yet I am happy about the six points that I contributed to the team’s fourth place standing.”

Team Manager, Michael Seifert, sums up: “We planned to be on the podium in the last race and to catch up in the team standings. And this is what we achieved, which makes me very happy. Sean’s catch-up race was very exciting and brought a lot of fun for us in the pits, too. As always, Sascha caught up some positions. Khaled was a bit unlucky today, however, it is a great success for him and for us that he fetched six championship points in his rookie season. At the beginning he faced some doubts as to whether he would be able to comply with the 107% rule. No one even mentions this anymore. Looking back on the season, we haven’t always been able to show our true potential. In the last part of the season, however, we improved a lot and this is all that counts. We are happy about the fourth place in the team championship.”

tolimit Managing Director, Hans-Bernd Kamps, adds: “The podium is a nice result to end the season and a great opportunity to thank our partners from Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Deutsche Post and Windreich. Furthermore, it was a great last show of our performance potential. In the final three races, we finished on the podium. In general, I am pretty satisfied with our development over the season. We constantly improved and we look forward to another great season next year.”

Team Abu Dhabi by tolimit’ driver, Sean Edwards of Great Britain, snatched his first official Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup race win at Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps, as veteran team-mate Sascha Maassen was forced to retire with technical failure. The team’s Abu Dhabi driver, Khaled Al Qubaisi, put in a consistent performance on the demanding track to finish 23rd.

Edwards left no doubt about his target for the weekend after a sterling qualifying run saw the 23-year-old set his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in Abu Dhabi livery on pole: “It was not a perfect lap, but enough for pole.”

Edwards clearly enjoyed driving alone, as he lead from start to finish, building up an dominant six second lead. “Before the race, I was sure that we would win if we could get a good start. We simply realized the plan. I put my head down and built a big lead and then backed off for the last few laps to bring it home. The whole team did a great job and they really deserve this win!” added Edwards.

With pole, fastest lap and the win, Edwards put on a dominant performance in the 9th round of the Porsche Mobile 1 Supercup. The Spa specialist who clinched victory back in 2008 as well won comfortably from championship leader Rene Rast, who later got a penalty, which made the winning gap 11 seconds to Jap Van Lagen.

Team-mate Maassen, however, had a weekend to forget on his ‘home’ track: “Our timing in qualifying was unfortunate. When I ran my flying lap, it started to rain again and the middle section was too wet, meaning I ended up 12th on the starting grid.” In the race, the 40-year-old – who was running in 10th place – had to withdraw because of mechanical issues.

The team’s Emirati star Al Qubaisi bravely fought the notorious track’s tough conditions, making it another completed race for the 34-year-old: “Spa is a very difficult track. It didn’t help that I am still getting used to these mixed weather conditions. Other than that, I am ok with my performance. Another race that was full of experiences for my future in motorsport.”

Team Manager Michael Seifert was satisfied: “We had to wait for a long time for this success, but finally we made it. For Sean, it was a perfect weekend. Sascha unfortunately suffered from technical failure. With Khaled, I am pretty satisfied, too. Spa is not an easy race track and he proved that he has what it takes to be a good race driver.”

tolimit Managing Director Hans-Bernd Kamps added: “We knew from the beginning of the season that we can win races. Today we showed it!”

The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup season finale will take place on September 12, in Monza, Italy.

After typical weather conditions in the Eifel – temperatures of only 16 degrees Celsius, dense fog, and heavy rain – caused a postponement of the Porsche Carrera Cup race from the morning into the afternoon, Sean Edwards and Sascha Maassen both successfully sustained their starting positions 2 and 4 under dry, but still difficult conditions.

Once again, qualifying was the key to success. Both Sean Edwards as well as Sascha Maassen, cut right to the chase on Saturday. Sean Edwards: “This was my best qualifying result in Porsche Carrera Cup so far. It was not a perfect lap, but enough for the front row.” After a proper start, the 23-year-old was at first able to compete with the leading pilot Armindo, however, due to his understeering car slightly fell back later on: “In the end of the race, I had a few duels with Uwe Alzen, however, managed to hold him behind. I am pretty satisfied with the result.”

Sascha Maassen was able to tie in with his success 10 years ago when he started for the tolimit team for the first time and immediately achieved pole position: “Well, this time it was not pole position, however, I am really satisfied with position 4 on the grid. I have to get used to a rougher driving style in Porsche Carrera Cup due to the tight performance density.”

In the race, the young father got hold of a great start: “That was amazing. I was immediately able to pass Alzen, however, stood back in the first curve due to Sean being in front of me. Then Tandy tried to overtake me on the inside, but was somehow out on his estimation and touched me on the side of the car. As a result, I lost one position again, however, am very happy that nothing happened in this incident. I am absolutely happy with position 4.”

Team manager Jörg Michaelis is more than satisfied with the performance of the two pilots and the whole team: “With positions 2 and 4, we achieved our target for this weekend of good individual results. Despite of typical Eifel weather conditions, both Sean and Sascha showed a superior performance. This was exactly what we needed and deserved. Now we have even more tailwind for the next race in Zandvoort. I am proud on the whole team.”

tolimit managing director Hans-Bernd Kamps adds: “A big compliment to Sean, Sascha and the whole team. We finally sorted out all issues that prevented us from being in the front rows. Although I am still allowed to smoke, as Sean hasn’t managed to be on pole or win a race so far, I will enjoy my cigarettes to the full in the next weeks. Who knows how long I will be able to indulge in this personal pleasure.”

For the guests of ‘Team Deutsche Post by tolimit’ the race weekend equally was a success, despite of the wet weather conditions. Both, the paper concerning internet letters and the view into the pits from the Deutsche Post suite, provided partners, customers and friends with an exciting and one-of-a-kind race experience.

TV channel Motorvision will show a re-live of the race tonight at 9.30 p. m. Sport 1 will broadcast the show “Cup Backstage“ tonight at 9.00 p. m., furthermore the highlights on Thursday, August 12, 2010, at 10.30 p. m. n-tv will show a short summary on Tuesday, August 10, 2010. Furthermore, some highlights of the race are part of the show “DTM Magazine” shown by DMAX on Sunday, August 15, 2010. The next race of Porsche Carrera Cup will take place on August 22, 2010, in Zandvoort, The Netherlands.