JEDDAH, 2 November 2006 — Ahmad Balhijilah, the Rafe Riders Team rider, clinched victory in the just-ended first official go-kart race in Saudi Arabia held at the Jeddah Raceway.
“It was great to be the first in the race,” a sweat drenched Balhijilah told reporters after the race. “I’ve been confident, and the competition was hard and good, but I won.”
Majed Al-Ghamdi, the distinguished rally champion, who drives for the Mobil 1 Karting Team and competed in a Go-Kart race for the first time, took second place after he mounted a nail-biting challenge over 20 laps against Balhijilah. “It was one of the most exciting and thrilling events I’ve ever been in,” said Al-Ghamdi.
The third spot went to Mohammad Krediah from Citroen team.
The race was mainly sponsored by Mobily, the second mobile service operator in the Kingdom with the support of Bison, Castrol, Mobil 1, IN 10 SO and Okaz, the media sponsor.
The race was held under the supervision of the Saudi Automobile and Tourism Association (SATA) and the General Presidency of Youth Welfare.
Organizers of the first official karting race in the Kingdom gave the 15 participating drivers a training program before the event. The course included theoretical sides connected generally to the idea of the race and the rules of karting race. It also imparted how to practice this sport safely and develop the driving ability in pursuance of the ‘safe race driver’ campaign.
The 15 competitors driving Tony Kart, the official car and the winner of world karting champions 2004 and 2005, started an experimental tour within the track for 10 minutes. After that drivers started the first qualifying round for 10 minutes followed by a rest for 15 minutes to start the second qualifying round also for 10 minutes.
As the race for professionals went on, experienced drivers seemed to be in control with their fast driving in front of the newly and experienced drivers. The race started with Mohammed Krediah, from Citroen Team, in the first position followed by Majed Al-Ghamdi from Mobil 1 Team and in the third position was Ahmad Balhijilah. When the race started all the 15 drivers started to compete trying to pass each other. After the first seven laps Ahmad Balhijilah managed to pass Majed Al-Ghamdi and Mohammed Kriediah to emerge first. The race reached its peak when Majed Al-Ghamdi managed to pass Krediah to rank second after Balhijilah.
The eight participating teams included Citroen, Mobil I, Ten Zero, Rugh Riders, Silver Shadow Samorai, Mohammad and Castrol.
Ali Al-Raief of the General Presidency of Youth Welfare congratulated the winners and expressed his satisfaction over the successful conclusion of the race. He also congratulated ace Saudi rally champion Abdullah Bakhashab for the successful organization of the competition and bringing the soul of F 1 to the Kingdom. Abdullah Bakhashab, the organizer of the event, said that karting races would give a big boost to the tourism sector in the Kingdom.
“The competition has put the country on the international map of sporting events,” he said and hoped that international karting races AI-so will be organized in the Kingdom in the near future.
