Team Abu Dhabi driver Jassim Al Shamsi made an impressive return to action in round three of the 2010 Radical European Masters Championship, as he notched up his first podium finish at Holland’s historic, former Grand Prix circuit, Zandvoort.

The Dutch summer made weather conditions over the seaside circuit unpredictable with sunshine on Saturday followed by set conditions on Sunday but it failed to deter Al Shamsi who quickly learnt the circuit and got up to speed.

Electrical problems in Race 1 qualifying meant that the driver for the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority-backed Team Abu Dhabi outfit was unable to set a time and had to start from the back of the 28 car grid. When the lights turned green on Race 1, Al Shamsi stole the show with a gutsy run through the field to finish sixth in the highly competitive SR3 Class.

Race 2 qualifying had Al Shamsi excited for a new challenge, as the rain and cold conditions were alien to a driver groomed in the UAE’s constant sunshine. Despite his inexperience in such conditions he stunned his rivals, who were more accustomed to the prevailing conditions, by qualifying second.

In Race 2 Al Shamsi maintained second place until the mandatory pit stop where he stalled and flooded the engine, costing him about 15 seconds and dropping him down the order to eighth. This is when the Emirati showed his true colours as he knuckled down and powered back to take third place in the SR3 Class, overtaking two rivals on the very last lap.

Al Shamsi sums up his weekend: “It was again a steep learning curve. New track, varying conditions and this time I was driving alone in the Team Abu Dhabi car. Standing on the podium and taking home a trophy makes me so happy as it is a reminder that we are doing well and improving step-by-step,” he said.

Team principal Carl Rolaston was clearly impressed with the performance: “Jassim had an amazing weekend. He surprised everyone with his tenacity and gutsy spirit. He never gives up and with the help of Jordan Grogor, UAE reigning Radical champion, he is honing his skills and becoming a very good racing driver, even on circuits that are foreign to him. He is definitely making a positive impact on his rivals and the Radical European Masters in general. We are very happy with his progress and are confident that he will be the man to beat when the series has its final round at Yas Marina Circuit later this year.”

In Team Abu Dhabi’s sister AUH Motorsport team car, with Jordon Grogor and Bassam Kronfli in the cockpit, it was a weekend of mixed fortunes with the pair scoring a podium in Race 1 of the SR8 Class only for them to experience problems during the driver changeover in Race 2 which dropped them down to 12th.