Manama: The 2024/2025 Bahrain Drag Racing Championship commenced with great fanfare last week at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir. Over 200 drag racers and their teams from across the globe converged on the quarter-mile drag strip, known as ‘The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East,’ for four days of thrilling competition.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Bahrain1 Racing, led by His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, emerged as a prominent victor among the 13 categories for cars and motorbikes. Khaled Al Balooshi of Bahrain1 Racing achieved a significant win in the Pro Mod category, marking a successful beginning to the new season for the reigning National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Pro Mod champions.
The event also saw victories in the car classes from Hasan Ashkanani, Yousif Alali, Ali Rabeea, Ali Alkhenaizi, Abdulfattah Atwan, Sayed Hussain Salman, Khalid Abdulkarim, and Fahad Alkhawari. In the motorbike categories, Fadi Abujampus, Fahed Alharbi, Mohammed Alawwad, and Nasse
r Borabaa secured top positions.
The championship’s opening round, organized by BIC in collaboration with the Bahrain Motor Federation, Motorsport Marshals Club, and Bahrain Drag Racing Commission, was the first of five rounds in the region’s premier drag racing series. In the Pro Mod final, Khaled Al Balooshi claimed victory with a time of 3.722 seconds at a speed of 320.04kph, outpacing Khalil Alansari due to a red light foul. Rashid Al Balooshi completed the podium in third place.
In other categories, Hasan Ashkanani won the Competition 4.5 class, Yousif Alali triumphed in the Pro 29.5 V8 category, and Ali Rabeea led the Index 10.0 drag racers. Ali Alkhenaizi, Abdulfattah Atwan, Sayed Hussain Salman, Khalid Abdulkarim, and Fahad Alkhawari also topped their respective classes, showcasing exceptional skill and speed.
Motorbike champions included Fadi Abujamous in the Street Fight Bikes 9.5 class, Fahed Alharbi in the Pro Street Bikes, Mohammed Alawwad in the Outlaw Bikes class, and Nasser Borabaa in the 8
.5 Index Bikes category.
The championship continues next month with the second round scheduled from December 10 to 13 at BIC, followed by successive rounds in January and February 2025, leading to the final showdown from February 18 to 21. For more updates on the Bahrain Drag Racing Championship and other events at BIC, visit bahraingp.com or follow BIC’s social media platforms.