Khaled Al Qubaisi has been operating at such a high level during the past 12 months that the Emirati’s greatest fear these days is no longer derived from wheel-to-wheel racing at high speeds, but rather the possibility of complacency creeping in.
Al Qubaisi started the year with a victory in the 24 Hours of Dubai and, just before midnight on Friday, capped off 2013 with his first win in the Gulf 12 Hours at Yas Marina Circuit.
In between, his Team Abu Dhabi by Black Falcon marque finished 15th from 250 at the famous Nurburgring, while he became the first UAE national to finish at Le Mans, the world’s most illustrious endurance event.
His performances this year have been so impressive that before this weekend’s event at Abu Dhabi, Al Qubaisi and his team were seen as favorites, despite a strong field that included Ferrari-powered AF Corse and M-Sport Bentley.
After 308 laps, the favorites prevailed – although not without a few scares. After holding a one-minute lead over Corse at the midway point, a minor incident involving others saw a safety car called upon.
With the field tightening up and Team Abu Dhabi mistiming their pit stop, they slipped down the field and had a fight on their hands.
“When I went for a rest after my stint, we had a one-minute lead at the front,” Al Qubaisi said.
“Then, when I came back after my rest, you can imagine my face, it was shocking. But I understood what happened and to come back and win from that, at my home race, was very special.”
Al Qubaisi, 37, dedicated the victory to Sean Edwards, his deceased British teammate who died in an on-track accident in Australia earlier this year.
“We came to the Gulf 12 Hours to win and had no intention of finishing second, so there was an element of nervousness before the race,” Al Qubaisi said.
“We had planned this for a long time to come in and win, so there was pressure, but also we wanted to win it for Sean.
“That was important for us and when you are in that position, naturally, it’s nerve-racking. To win finally was a feeling of relief more than anything.”
The next target for Al Qubaisi and co arrives in three weeks at Dubai Autodrome when they will compete in the 24 Hours of Dubai.
Having won this year’s event, he knows they will be the marque everybody wants to beat, but success builds confidence and Team Abu Dhabi will travel up Sheikh Zayed Road in high spirits.
“Winning this weekend is the perfect way to close out the year and sets us up nicely for next month in Dubai,” he said.
“We know now that we have a very good chance to win the third event. I am actually getting used to winning, which might not be a good thing because, you know, I might relax and try to take it easy.”
Teammates Jeroen Bleekemolen and Bernd Schneider, the latter a former Formula One driver, are unlikely to let that happen, while Al Qubaisi also has someone else urging him on from the sidelines.
His daughter Amna, 13, was recently inducted into the Daman Speed Academy, a national race school set up with the intention of producing world-class talent from grass-roots level.
“Amna and another student from the academy came and asked a lot of good questions, which was impressive,” he said.
“It’s important that they know what to expect, so she has gained the experience now and when the time comes for her to make a step up, she has been there and will be ready for it; there will be no anxiety.”
