BAHRAIN’S representatives at this weekend’s Sodi World Finals in Lignano, Italy had strong performances yesterday.
The results were headlined by Racing.BH’s qualifying in third position for their title-defence in the event’s highly competitive Endurance Cup.
Last year’s world champions secured their solid grid position ahead of today’s gruelling 12-hour endurance race, which is set to feature 40 teams from all over the world.
Racing.BH feature the trio of Bahraini Mohammed Mattar and Emiratis Ramez Azzam and Saeed Al Mehairi. The Bahraini outfit will be looking to go all out for a victory and claim the title for an unprecedented second year in a row.
They clocked a best lap of one minute 04.675 seconds during the Q3 shootout held around the 1.2-kilometre Circuito Internazionale Venezia Giulia. They were classified not far behind pole-sitters Cine Cascae by SKOF from France, who had a best lap of 1:04.488. Sunlife Racing Team from host nation Italy took the other front row position in 1:04.638.
Rounding out the top 10 qualifiers from fourth through 10th, respectively, were Bindrai Karting from Dubai; UD Petillants from France; DRGM, Team Nutria and J4F Racing Team all from Italy; Young and Wild from Slovakia and Kart and Diem from France.
Bahrain’s other team set to battle for the Endurance Cup are Ice Racing Team, who narrowly missed out on Q3 and will start in 11th on the grid. Boasting the likes of Bahrainis Ali Dadi, Ahmed Kooheji and Qamar Saleem along with British teenager Louis Skalski.
They posted a best lap of 1:04.718 during Q2, at the end of which they bowed out from further contention for pole. Racing.BH did well in Q2 with a 1:04.579 lap. Earlier in Q1, Racing.BH’s time was 1:04.642, while Ice Racing Team clocked a mark of 1:04.277.
Meanwhile, three Bahrainis are competing for a prize in the Sodi World Finals’ Sprint Cup. After some tough competition yesterday, the karters head into the final day of action with Rashid Almuammari in Warm Up Group ‘B’ to start the proceedings, Ahmed Ebrahim in Warm Up Group ‘D’ and Abdulla Buhindi in Warm Up Group ‘C’.
The Sodi World Finals gather each year the very best worldwide SWS drivers for an intense competitions event. Based on the Sodi World Series rankings, the best teams and drivers, amongst 40,000 registered around the world, compete during a whole year at their home track for the right to earn a precious ticket for this massive event.
There is also a Junior Cup at the Sodi World Finals, but no Bahrainis are racing for that trophy.