Ahmad Al Harthy and Michael Caine are aiming to maintain, and preferably increase, their points lead at the top of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship when round three of the season takes place on Bank Holiday Monday, 5th May, at Rockingham in Northamptonshire.

Just a week removed from their sensational round one victory at Oulton Park International Circuit, the Oman Racing Team pairing heads into the first two-hour race of the 2014 British GT campaign rich in confidence and sure of another sterling performance.

As well as the obvious importance of getting the championship off to a winning start, the first event of the season was a landmark occasion for Ahmad and his prestigious sponsors Oman Air, Oman Ministry of Tourism, Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs, Nawras, National Bank of Oman and Al Hashar Group/Aston Martin Oman.

Not only was it just the 32-year-old’s second race meeting at the wheel of his Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 – the first having come the week prior in the Blancpain Endurance Series – it was the ‘official’ British debut of the Oman Racing Team.

“What an incredible weekend Oulton Park was”, reflected Ahmad, “We had confidence we’d be competitive and hoped to challenge for the podium, but to have qualified on pole position by half a second and then convert that into a win was just amazing and more than we could have wished for.

“The Oman Racing Team did a fantastic job with the set-up on the car, our Aston Martin was such a pleasure to drive and it did everything Michael [Caine] and I wanted. To lead the championship going into Rockingham is a great feeling and definitely boosts our confidence even further.”

Next weekend’s two-hour race will provide a fresh challenge, although the experience gained by Ahmad and team-mate Caine during the opening round of the Blancpain Endurance Series at Monza earlier in the month will stand them in good stead for a longer duration contest.

Reliability, of course, will be a key factor at Rockingham – as it always is in endurance racing – and so too will looking after the car during the 120-minute race. While ultimate pace is important, it means nothing without a car that is capable of performing consistently well for the full distance.

“We saw at Oulton what a strong car the Oman Racing Team Aston Martin is and I’m sure it’s going to be competitive again at Rockingham”, added Ahmad, “Being a two-hour race, consistency and reliability will be even more important. The aim is to try and keep hold of our championship lead, and I’m confident we have a good chance.”

Taking place on Rockingham’s International Super Sportscar ‘Long’ Circuit, next weekend’s British GT event will get underway on Sunday, 4th May, with two free practice sessions preceding qualifying at 15.45. On Bank Holiday Monday, 5th May, round three of the season is scheduled to start at 13.55.

Provisional 2014 Avon Tyres British GT Championship Driver Standings (after Rd2):

1st Ahmad Al Harthy & Michael Caine, 31pts