JEDDAH, 23 March 2005 — The Karting Circuit at King’s Road here has been readied for the Kingdom’s first Red Bull 25-Hour Karting event set for two days from tomorrow (March 24-25).
Spectators will see a fierce competition among participants who include Saudi and expat drivers. “This heart-pounding race is regulated by the international laws on karting,” the organizers said yesterday. The Kingdom’s best drivers, as well as other teams from the GCC countries will put their skills and endurance to the test in this event that is organized in collaboration with the Saudi Automobile & Touring Association (SATA).
The Renault-Zahid Karting Team is among the first teams to register for the challenge. Ten avid drivers will defend the Renault colors in the event. The team is sponsored by Renault-Zahid and co-sponsored by Publicis Graphics Advertising Agency and Lifestyle Clothing Stores. Renault team members are young and enjoy an unmatched team spirit. They are true sportsmen and their age varies from 22 to 40 years. The team brings together driving talents of Saudi and Lebanese origin. It includes Amer Abdallah (team captain), Fady Aswad, Zayd Zahid, Hamza Zahid, Sultan Hamdi, Jean Lahoud, Mohamad Ghaziri, Mazen Eido, Ronald Zouein and Rifaat Abdel Baki.
Some of the team members have experience that goes way back to rallying in Lebanon or Kart driving in Lebanon, the United States and the UK. “The team will benefit from Amer’s experience in terms of strategy and endurance racing since he has participated in several 24-hour racing in Dubai,” the team manager said.
Most of the Renault team members were training hard on the local Go-Kart track in order to enhance their driving technique and familiarize themselves with the track.
The Renault team members expressed their gratitude not only to their sponsor and co-sponsor but also to “Red Bull” for organizing an unprecedented event in the Kingdom, hoping that many more events will follow.
The team, for which the Jeddah circuit is the birthplace, views this event as a starting point for their regional venture in karting championships for many years to come.
Sport Stars Entertainment will provide the 160 CC Honda karts to which the teams will be authorized to carry out some slight modifications affecting the steering wheel and the car front and side, in accordance with the approved norms and standards.
Before the race starts, the car will be subjected to a final test performed by karting experts in order to establish the car’s ability to participate in the race.
