The second race meeting of the season was on the Club circuit configuration at the Dubai Autodrome, a 2.5 km circuit. My confidence was high after having won my last race.  I qualify 3rd behind the GT2 and the SEAT, which is in a different class, so I am racing him for honour rather than points.  Two other GT3s qualify behind me and the GT3RS qualifies further back.  Racing is all about doing the little things that matter; I decide to reduce the weight as much as possible, each race is 20 minutes, in addition to an out lap, a formation lap and a cool-down parade lap, I calculate that I need exactly 45 litres of fuel per race.  With fuel weighing 800 grams per litre and each additional 10kg of extra weight costing me up to 0.3 seconds per lap, it pays to keep the car as light as possible. I also decide to remove the passenger seat, a saving of 20kg at least; it's a simple task of undoing 4 bolts.

Tyre pressure settings are critical, tyres will work best and will have the most grip at a certain tyre pressure when hot during the race; you then have to determine what that pressure would be when the tyres are cold and start off with that. You need the right amount of pressure so that the tyre is evenly in contact with the tarmac. Even tyre wear patterns are a good indicator of the correct tyre pressure being used.  The humidity in the air being pumped in the tyres affects tyre pressures; tyre pressures can increase as much as 10psi from the cold set pressure to the pressure at the end of a driving session.  Some international race teams use 100 per cent nitrogen instead of air in order to have the least pressure difference between cold and hot pressures.  Ferrari has even been experimenting with some exotic gases in their Formula 1 cars. Now you understand why teams use tyre warmers, and drivers are continually weaving, accelerating, and braking in the formation lap, they are desperately trying to get the tyres at the correct temperature and therefore correct pressure before the start of the race.

We line up for the start of the first race, lights go out, and we're off. All competitors are running in tight formation. I try to stay with the GT2 and SEAT, but they are pulling away every lap. Within three laps, both cars disappear off in the distance, and I have a comfortable margin on the 3 GT3's behind me.  My team manager Boelo signals not to take any chances; I just drive consistently and bring it home in 3rd overall and 2nd in class.  The second race was a carbon copy of the first, I start in 3rd position, and again the GT2 and SEAT pull away lap after lap.  I was surprised by the SEAT's improvement; he used to destroy his set of tyres within 20 minutes, the SEAT is clearly faster than me now, on this track configuration with only one straight.  I have a clear advantage over the other GT3's and I decide to bring it home, again 3rd overall, and 2nd in class.  I felt really good after that race day, having qualified fastest of the other Porsche GT3's and finishing ahead of them, I am looking forward to the next one.