Egyptian Hamada to lead the first Lumina CSV race
BIC, Sakhir:
Egyptian Ahmed Hamada will be the first on the starting grid in the Lumina CSV
Middle East Championship race today, following a top performance during the
first stretch of the National Racing Festival 2008 yesterday.
During the qualifiers yesterday, Hamada glided straight into first place, whilst
Bahraini CSV champ Fahad Al Musalam settled for second place. The fierce
competition continued throughout the penultimate round, which was seen as the
main event of the festival weekend, as Al Musalam battled to stay ahead of Saudi
Al Yaeesh. The final is now set to sideline the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix due
on the 4th – 6th April 2008.
Fans not only got to see the action kick off on the tarmac but also had the
chance to catch a glimpse of the Batelco 2000CC Challenge unravel at the Bahrain
International Circuit. And for the first time in BIC history, the drag ‘test and
tune’ round took off during the day time where drivers and bikers got the chance
to test their cars ready for the second round of the National Drag Racing
Championship next month.
All smiles for Hamada
Egyptian driver Ahmed Hamada expressed his delight having clinched first
position in the grid line up during the qualifiers with a superb time of
1:18:185 secs, whilst Bahrain Fahad Al Musalam picked up second starting
position following a dramatic finish which put him ahead of Abdul Aziz Al Yaeesh.
As for Shaikh Hamad bin Isa showed a growing improvement in his championship
which put him in fourth place. The Championship’s youngest racer Raed Raffii was
nowhere to be seen during the qualifiers as Dutch team mate Jaap Vaandrager took
his place instead. The two Argentinean guest drivers who joined the drivers
during the fifth race included Franco Cosca and Pablo Rudolf who were seen
driving Saudi Fawaz Al Gosaibi’s car. As for the French duo Jacques Levet and
Christophe Mariot, the two were seen driving the French team car during the free
sessions and the qualifiers.
Ahmed Hamada was more than happy to have made it to first position once again,
having achieved a similar result the last time he raced in Bahrain in November.
He added that a keeping focused could see him stand a good chance of winning the
Championship but highlighted that it wouldn’t be easy as he faces fierce
competition against Al Yaeesh and Al Musalam.
Results following the qualifiers are as follows:
1st Egyptian Ahmed Hamada; 2nd Bahraini Fahad Al Musalam; 3rd Saudi Abdul Aziz
Al Yaeesh; 4th Bahraini Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa; 5th Australian Tarek
Elgammal; 6th Argentineans Franco Cusco and Pablo Rudolf; 7th Dutch Jaap
Vaandrager; 8th Saudi Fahad Hizam; 9th Egyptian Raed Charawi; 10th French
Christophe Mariot and Jacques Levet; 11th Bahraini Adel Shaji; 12th Austrian
Helmut Fleischmann; 13th Saudi Bandar Al Selmi; 14th Saudi Husam Al Saleh; 15th
Emirati Marwa Al Eifa.
Elgammal shines through
Yesterday saw Elgammal excel during the free sessions, surpassing Fahad Al
Musalam who finished in second place.
Fahad Al Musalam expressed how he would not wait to snatch up more points in the
two races today, as he fights to hold onto first place. He added that he would
be 100 per cent focused during this race, leaving no room for error. As for Al
Yaeesh, he highlighted that the pressure was on and the competition between him
and Al Musalam was on. Today is his opportunity to blaze through and pick up
maximum points. Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, currently in third, stated that
this was a great opportunity to be participating alongside such fierce
competition, and added that he looked forward to getting the ahead of Al Musalam
and Al Yaeesh who currently lead.
Current point standings put Fahad Al Musalam in first with 133 points, Saudi
Abdul Aziz Al Yaeesh in second with 114 points, and Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al
Khalifa not far behind with 101 points.
Shaikh Salman bin Isa steams ahead of Batelco 2000CC
In the Batelco 2000CC Challenge, Shaikh Salman bin Isa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa
held on strong as he managed to pick up first place once again in the third
round of the challenge. New competition was seen on the track as Mustafa Al Khan
joined the challenge for the first time and picked up an impressive second
place. Mohammed Saleh took third place and Stephen Kellogg clinched fourth. Issa
Al Kooheji finished in fifth whilst Ali Al Kubaisi made it to the finish line in
sixth place, and first-time Batelco 2000CC racer Rashed Al Jowder finished in
seventh. Michael Spahn too eighth place whilst Faisal Raffii finished in ninth.
As for Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, he failed to make it past the qualifiers
due to technical failures which forced him to withdraw from the competition.
A striking performance was seen yesterday from Shaikh Salman bin Isa who
clinched first place in the last two rounds. But with newcomer Mustafa Al Khan
on the block, he will have to stay focused in today’s races which could see the
winner pick up 450 dinars from Batelco the title sponsors.
Test and tune in the daytime
The drag strip was witness to the first ever test and tune round during the
daytime. Over 80 drivers and bikers participating various categories stepped up
to the plate and took on the challenge. Organized by the BDRC, fans got to watch
a gripping round on the 1.2km strip with racers from all across the GCC. Another
test and tune round looks all set today with the first session kicking off at
1.30pm and the second at 6.30pm.
Salman bin Isa: Motorsport fans on the increase
Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, Chief Operating Officer at Bahrain
International Circuit, was delighted to see the numbers of spectators and
participants who made their way down to the track yesterday. He added that the
fans that attended the National Racing Festival 2008 was a clear indicator of
the growing popularity of motor sports both locally and regionally.
Shaikh Salman added that the level of competition seen in the Lumina CSV ME
Championship was also a sign that the Championship was growing and developing at
a fast rate, proving itself as one of the most prominent championships of the
region. He wished all participants the best of luck in today’s race and looked
forward to another round of fierce competition.
He was also thrilled to see the Batelco sponsored 2000CC challenge gaining
popularity, as more and more drivers enlist as the rounds progress. He also
added that the first-ever daytime test and tune round was received very
positively and hoped all visitors enjoyed their day out.
Fans have the time of their life
Hundreds of fans were seen at the circuit having a great time yesterday at the
BIC. With entrance for free and a packed schedule of entertainment and
attractions families, kids and grown-ups got the chance to spend the day
watching an array of races, have their faces painted and meet the rivers.
Spectators can also make their way to the circuit for the second day of the
National Racing Festival today, for free, where they will get to see the fifth
round of the Lumina CSV ME Championship take off, the Batelco 2000CC Challenge,
the second drag test and tune round and much much more.
