- Published: April 23 2008
The sixth round of the Batelco 2000CC Challenge is quickly hotting up as top competitors Mustafa Al Khan and Shaikh Salman bin Isa bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa throw their gloves down this Friday, 25 April, at Bahrain International Circuit.
Current leader in the championship and winner of eight races, Shaikh Salman bin Isa bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, stressed that the competition had just gotten fiercer following Al Khan’s statement yesterday. He also highlighted that this would be adding more intense action to the upcoming round and gladly welcomed the competition from all drivers.
In the meantime, three drivers who have been seen preparing for the upcoming bout of action include Osama Al-Buflasa, Faisal Raffii and the only female driver Carina Ghuloom.
Al-Buflasa: I’ve started preparing for next season
As the competition gets fiercer between 2000CC’s Schumi, Shaikh Salman bin Isa bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, currently sponsored by Z-speed, and top rival Mustafa Al Khan, the remaining drivers have been seen preparing their cars for next round.
Owner of the uniquely pink car, Osama Al-Buflasa, is one of the young and rising Bahraini talents aspiring to achieve positive results in the debut season of such a successful Batelco 2000CC Challenge. The driver also stressed that it was crucial that rules and regulations were imposed to limit the extent to which the engine may be modified to make for a fair and competitive race. He said that not only will this make it a more level race, but it will mean that regardless of the amounts spent on modifying or the name of the sponsor, each driver will have an equal chance of winning. Al-Buflasa also added that he had built his car at home and is progressively modifying and testing his car throughout the season to attempt to make first place next season.
Osama Al-Buflasa
Born: 1 May 1978
Driving interest: Began racing in 2002
Milestones: Participated in the Karting Challenge, Caterham, Lumina CSV ME Championship 2006,
preparing to join the Renault V6 Championship
Race car: BMW Z3
Current position: 10th
Current points: 48 points
Best position: 4th
Raffii: Need to modify my car to compete
Young racing talent Faisal Raffii highlighted that he was striving to modify his car, as the 1.4-litre engine in order to remain on par with the other drivers. He added that he had participated in the Challenge from the very start of the season but has failed to make it to the front of the standings, having given his best performance possible.
Raffii also added that he was thinking of coming back strong next season with an official sponsor to modify his car. He stressed that, in the meantime, he would be doing his best this round to make it to front of the pack but would not be disappointed if he did not.
Faisal Raffii
Born: 21 January 1984
Driving interest: Participated in Mercedes C-Class Championship 2004
Milestones: Race for Bahrain 2005; Caterham Championship 2005 & 2006;
1st place in the Castrol Academy Championship;
preparing to participate in 2008 Lumina CSV ME Championship;
current driver in Batelco 2000CC Challenge.
Race car: Ford Fiesta 1.4-litre
Current position: 7th
Current points: 116 points
Best position: 6th
Carina: The all-new championship is very exciting
The one and only Bahraini female driver, Carina Ghuloom, joining the other racers in the Batelco 2000CC Challenge revealed that she was determined to make it to a good finish in her second round of the championship. She added that this all-new Challenge was a very exciting one which provided a fun environment to be racing, even though her car is not as powerful as the rest.
Carina also added that she would be preparing and modifying her car ready for next season, which she hopes will be packed with fiercer competition.
Carina Ghuloom
Born: 7 August 1984
Driving interest: Began racing in 2006 Caterham Championship
Milestones: National Sprint Championship; Co-driver with Abdul Rahman Ghuloom (father) in Rally Bahrain 2004;
current driver in Batelco 2000CC Challenge;
2007 National Sprint champion in her category; currently 2nd in National Sprint.
Race car: BMW, 1984
Current position: 12th
Current points: 10 points
Best position: 9th