- Published: May 11 2008
Racing fans are in for a speed-quenching treat as this weekend looks ready for more action at Bahrain International Circuit.
As the seventh round of the Batelco 2000CC Challenge hits the track, as well as the National Sprint Championship in its eighth round, organized by the Circuit Racing Club under the Bahrain Motor Federation, the action will be hotting up.
In addition, the strip will be set ablaze as drag racers from as far as Kuwait, U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia as they go head-to-head from 7pm until 11pm in the fourth round of the Bahrain Drag Racing Championship, organized by the Bahrain Drag Racing Club.
Shaikh Salman meets his match Mustafa Al Khan
Kicking off at 9am this morning will be the eighth round of the Bahrain National Racing Championship which will see the seventh round of the Batelco 2000CC Challenge as well as the National Sprint Championship. All eyes will be locked tight on Shaikh Salman bin Isa bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, currently leading with 294 points, and Mustafa Al Khan as they go head-to-head in the Batelco 2000CC Challenge.
Having already seen Shaikh Salman bin Isa win 10 out of 12 races over the season, the action in the Batelco-sponsored Challenge will continue today at 9am as the first free sessions kick off, followed by qualifiers at 10am which will determine where the drivers will start on the grid. The first 10-lap race will kick off at 1.35pm, whilst the second race will take place at 4.30pm.
As for the National Sprint Championship, in its seventh round, participants can register from 11am until 12pm.
Fierce competition for drag racers today
The action will also continue into the evening on the drag strip at Bahrain International Circuit for the fourth round of the Bahrain Drag Racing Championship. Having seen drivers from across the Gulf make their way down for last night’s ‘test and tune’ session which followed with the qualifiers they are gearing up for fierce competition tonight.
Drag racing fanatics will be able to watch the ‘pro mod’ category closely as the Popeye Racing team arrives in full force with a stronger outfit as a third car joins their ranks as they go head-to-head with Emirati Al Seem Performance Group, who saw team driver Ali Al Kaabi steal the victory in the previous round.
As for the other race categories, fans will be able to catch action from the drag racing bikers which has seen Kuwait take the lead in all three groups.
The current standings for the Batelco 2000CC Challenge:
1. Salman bin Isa bin Ibrahim al Khalifa 294 points
2. Michael Spahn 212 points
3. Ali Al Kubaisi 188 points
4. Mustafa Al Khan 172 points
5. Faisal Raffii 142 points
6. Rashid Al Jowder 133 points
7. Stephen Kellogg 130 points
8. Mohammed Saleh 119 points
9. Isa Al Kooheji 78 points
10. Osama Al-Buflasa 58 points
11. Carina Abdul Rahman 27 points