- Published: June 07 2009
This weekend witnessed 15 drivers step up their game to compete one last time in the Batelco 2000CC Challenge which is sponsored by leading telecommunications company, Batelco, organized by the Circuit Racing Club, sanctioned by the Bahrain Motor Federation and promoted by Bahrain International Circuit.
During the first practice session, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa scored the fastest lap time of 1:20.170 minutes as Stephen Kellogg followed closely behind with a 1.220 second gap, whilst Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa took third just 2.621 seconds from the lead. Mustafa Al Khan face technical problems with his car as Shaikh Jaber bin Ali Al Khalifa faced some misfortune and came in 14th place.
The qualifiers witnessed a similar result as Shaikh Hamad once again took first place as Mustafa Al Khan stepped up the competition to take second place, whilst Mohammed Saleh followed behind in third and Shaikh Salman stood in fourth place. Shaikh Jaber continued to struggle with some mechanical problems which drove him to qualifying in last place. Al Khan showed his superb sportsmanship by lending Shaikh Jaber some parts to enable him to compete and joined the back of the grid for the first race having failed to score any timed laps during the practice sessions.
Meanwhile, race one saw competition intensify one last time this season as Al Khan and Shaikh Jaber made a clean start from the back of the grid whilst Shaikh Hamad and Shaikh Salman faced mechanical problems forcing them to retire early from the race. Shaikh Jaber and Al Khan continued their battle for the last time which led to Al Khan taking first position, Shaikh Jaber in second and Mohammed Saleh in third.
At the final race, Shaikh Hamad and Shaikh Salman were seen making a great start as Al Khan, once again, faced mechanical probems which forcing him to make his way back to the pits, leaving the final fight up to Shaikh Jaber, Shaikh Hamad and Shaikh Salman. At the end of the second race Shaikh Jaber finished in first with a time of 15:59.341 minutes as Shaikh Hamad took second place just 7.995 seconds behind and Shaikh Salman settled for third just 18.125 seconds from the lead.