JEDDAH, 1 June 2007 — Hussein Al-Sharif of Sport Auto team won first place in the first official karting race in the Kingdom held at the Jeddah Raceway on Wednesday night. Mohammad Al Nahdi of Red Speed team, who competes in the karting race for the second time, took second place, following a marvelous challenge for 25 labs between him and Hussein Al-Sharif.
“It was one of the most exciting and thrilling events I have ever covered or witnessed,” Al Nahdi said. The third spot went to Bandar Al-Silami from Samorai team. The race was sponsored by Mobily as the main sponsor, and Bridgestone, for the first time, Mobil 1, IN 10 SO and Okaz as a media sponsor as cosponsors or supporters. The race was held under the supervision of the Saudi Committee for Motorsport and the Presidency of Youth Welfare.
Organizers of the Mobily karting race gave the drivers a training program before the competition. The course included theory related to the race and its rules. An orientation was also given about practicing this sport in pursuance of the ‘safe race driver’ slogan.
The 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 fifteen 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 Hussein Al Sharif from Sport Auto team in first place, followed by Mohammed Al Nahdi of Red Speed team in second position and Maher Mominah of Raf Rider in third place. When the race started, all the drivers started to compete trying to pass each other.
There were changes in team titles according to the new sponsors. The six teams were Samorai, Red Speed, Sport Auto, Raf Rider and RMC.
Ali Al Reifi of the Presidency of Youth Welfare office congratulated the winners and expressed his satisfaction over the successful conclusion of the race. He also congratulated Abdullah Bakhashab for organizing the competition successfully and bringing the soul of F1 to the Kingdom. Bakhashab said that karting races would give a big boost to the tourism sector in the Kingdom. “The competition has put the Kingdom on the international map of sporting events,” he said and hoped that international karting races would also be held here in the near future.
