JEDDAH: Abdullah Al-Mutari lifted the Toyota Karting Race title when he won the sixth round of the event at In 10 SO in the Serafi Mega Mall complex during the weekend.
The 6th round was full of action with professional drivers such as Hassan Al-Sharbatly, Al-Bara’a Hakeem, Ahmad Al-Nahdi and Khaled Sharbatly making it very interesting. Mohammad Al-Orabi, the winner the 5th round, finished second clocking 00:22:134, followed by Hassan Sharbatli the 2nd of the 5th round (00:23:165).
Al-Mutari scotched a marvelous challenge in 40 rounds of the race, timing 00:21:360. Starting from second, he passed Mohammad Al-Orabi to stay first.
“I enjoyed myself all through the race and I’m overjoyed to win the final and the title,” said Al Mutari. “It was very important for me to get through and in the top-section, but my lap was very nice and I hope to give the Saudi people a great victory in the upcoming competition.”
ALJ-Toyota sponsored the race with Mobil 1 and IN 10 SO as its supporters. It was held under the supervision of the Saudi Committee for Motorsport and the General Presidency of Youth Welfare (GPYW). The 14 competitors driving Tony Kart, the official car and the winner of world karting champions, started an experimental tour within the track for ten minutes. After that drivers started the first qualifying round for 20 minutes followed by a rest for fifteen minutes to start the second qualifying round also for ten 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 overall standing after the sixth round: Abdullah Al-Mutari 92 points who thus qualifies to participate in Toyota Karting 2009 Championship, Hassan Sharbatly 69 points, Mohammad Al Orabi 61 and Sultan Kaylo 51.
Bandar Othman, ALJ events specialist, congratulated the winners and expressed his satisfaction over the success of the championship. He also complimented Saudi Rally Champion and motor sport developer Abdullah Bakhashab for conducting the competition and bringing the soul of F1 to the Kingdom.
Abdul Majeed Al-Gamal, manager at IN 10 SO manager, and Bakhashab expressed their satisfaction over the participation of Saudis and hoped they would show keen interest in taking part in future national and international races. “The teams were competitive and the average lap times in the 6th round were much quicker than the 4th and 5th rounds,” Bakhashab said. “It is hard to pinpoint one single factor that made this race extraordinary, unique and rewarding. Super-quick drivers, position changes and switchbacks, and fast strategy changes culminated in one driver racing past the check flag, but it was a team effort coming together at the end to congratulate each other on a well done job,” he and hoped that the Kingdom would soon emerge as a venue for international karting races.
