With only a short gap of 11 days after Round 3 and 4, and on the same glorious Dubai Autodrome GP circuit everything was still fresh in the minds of the teams and drivers going into Round 5 and 6.

It was set to be a packed schedule with both qualifying and races on Friday, and first out at 0840 for Q1. As the cars started rolling over the line at the end of 15 minute session it was Ian Roberts holding pole with a 2.05.110 with Sean Simpson on a 2.05.140 for second. But last over the line was Jeff Curtis putting a 2.04.673 to claim his first ever pole in the GRC!

Only 5 minutes later the siren rang out to indicate the start of Q2, and with tyres still hot the quick times came fast. James Edmeades very quickly made his mark with a 2.03.400, Ian Roberts upped his game putting in a 2.04.078, as did Sean Simpson on a 2.04.581 for third.

Race 1 started with a great start from Ian Roberts, but a poor start from pole sitter Jeff Curtis, dropping to 4th. It was pretty much nose to tail up to the pits stops with Roberts, followed by Hjerppe, Smith and Simpson. Curtis had dropped to sixth and was applying pressure to Ben Freer, it seemed to work and he span out at turn 11. Ian came in at the first chance, and with no pit penalty carrying over from the last race he stood a great chance to get back out in the lead, with his closest rival Hjerppe having the full 15 second penalty from Round 4. So after the pit stops were done it was indeed Roberts out front, but with the charging Edmeades behind.

Roberts was holding his nerve with Edmeades edging closer and closer, into turn 16 on the last lap he saw his chance and lunged to try and take the lead. However carry a little too much speed meant Edmeades car slid sideways and in a bizarre moment their rear wing endplates interlocked, spinning them both off the track. Roberts ended up facing the right way starring at the waving chequered flag, while Edmeades had a nice view of the Hotel but looking the wrong way. Roberts quickly got going again and still managed to cross the line in first, with Edmeades just behind. Luckily for both of them Simpson had an off track moment a few laps earlier opening up a bigger gap, otherwise it would have been a win for him for sure! Smith had pulled up a few laps earlier with a gearbox issue. Lower down the pack, the driving combo of Clark and Cush had found some pace and for many early laps were pursuing Feyzulin, while new driver Francis showed great pace getting into the 2.05’s!

All eyes were on Edmeades and Roberts as they pulled into Parc Ferme to see the reaction from the incident. However, hugs was the reaction, laughter and congratulations! It shows the great respect amongst the GRC drivers to see fair, close but hard racing!

Race two got underway a few hours later with Pole sitter Edmeades looking to set the record straight from the last corner action in Race 1 (considered a racing incident by the officials), and that he did, taking a commanding lead in the early laps. Roberts followed in second but with Hjerppe in hot pursuit. However this time the tables were turned and it was Roberts who had the pitstop penalty from Race 1. So, after the pit stops and completed it was Curtis (who had taken the car over from Edmeades), followed by Hjerppe, then Simpson and Roberts.

Hjerppe caught Curtis, but then followed lap, after lap of cat and mouse between the two, both holding their nerve. Incidentally this weekend had seen some of the best driving from the D5 sponsored driver of Curtis!

Simpson fell foul a few laps later to the ever growing bumps at the exit of turn 12, and he found himself pirouetting over the exit curb. But Roberts that was on a charge, trying to make back the 15 seconds extra he had to endure on the pits. He was the fastest man on track lapping about a second a lap faster than the leaders. But with a 6 second gap and 6 laps to go, maybe we were heading for a last lap lunge as we saw in Race 1!

Never was it truer to say, but ‘one more lap’ and Roberts may have had his chance for a double, but it was not to be. The three crossed the line nose to tail, with Hjerppe wining from Curtis and Roberts in third!

A great days racing! A break now, until the middle of January when the GRC returns again to the full GP circuit at Yas Marina.