MANAMA, 20 November 2004 — More than 5,000 spectators from all over the Gulf region packed the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir on Thursday for the first ever ‘Rumble in the Desert’ Drag Race that went on till the early hours of yesterday morning.
Seventy-four top GCC drivers from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar faced stiff competition divided into three categories.
E.K. Kanoo organized the event in cooperation with the Bahrain Drag Racing Club.
The event kicked off with Bahraini driver Ahmed Aryan driving his Honda Civic (type R) in the Street category, which was for ‘mild’ modified cars with 34 in the fray.The next category was the Super Street bolt-on in which 28 drivers participated, while twelve entrants competed in the Pro competition involving low-weight cars.
Bahrain Drag Racing Club General Secretary Fahad Taqi said that of the 90 registered drivers, 16 were disqualified after failing to pass scrutineering procedures before the race.
“There were more drivers from Bahrain and GCC who arrived after the deadline for registration and we are disappointed not to have them with us on the circuit,” he said.
“But we are delighted to host such an event for the first time at the BIC with this huge crowd of motorsport fans boosting the event,” said Taqi. The excitement began earlier in the day with an auto show during which 100 cars took part, while 45 bikes participated in an amazing motorbike show. The car show featured six categories, while the motorbike event comprised 11 and each of the events were categorized according to the vehicles’ specifications. “The drivers came out fighting as the much-awaited ‘Rumble in the Dessert’ marked the start of a new era for drag racing in Bahrain,” said E. K. Kanoo acting director Ebrahim Kanoo. “The event was everything the crowd expected and even more.”
“In the afternoon, the capacity crowd drooled over a fantastic line-up of buffed and gleaming cars in the auto show,” he said. “It was a fun day out for the family and an action packed speed extravaganza for the die-hard motorsport fan,” he said. Tickets for the event were sold-out two days before the event, said the organizers. “We will hold more drag race events in future and they will always be regional.”
Sponsors of the event are Batelco, Bapco, Bison Energy Drink, Al Ayam, Bahrain Tribune and proudly supported by Nissan, Kleeman, Khaleej Finance & Investments, Sparco, Sonax, Skoda, Michelin, Mercedes Benz, Toyota, Porsche, Bin Hindi (TYRON), Volvo, Antera, Khan, BP, Blaupunkt, BP, Arabian Motors, Bahraini Cars.com, Gulf GT.com and Mathias Middle East.
