Double joy for Shaikh Hamad

SHAIKH Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa continued his strong start to the new season of the BIC 2,000cc Challenge claiming a fine double in round two at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.

Having won both races in the season-opener last month, Shaikh Hamad returned to “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East” and enjoyed a near-perfect weekend in his white Honda Civic hatchback.

Shaikh Hamad won the first race from pole position and then was awarded the win in race two after the sprint was red-flagged on the 12th lap. The session was stopped due to excessive oil on the track.

Hussain Karimi and Abdulaziz Ashkanani joined Shaikh Hamad on the podium for both races, with Karimi in second and Ashkanani third each time.

“I’m very happy to get the two wins tonight,” said Shaikh Hamad said. “The more points the better. I’ve always wanted to start the season collecting a good number, so this time I’m really happy and honoured to be doing it.”

Shaikh Hamad began the day’s proceedings by topping the practice timesheet with a best lap of one minute 20.305 seconds around BIC’s 2.55-km Inner Track. He then secured pole with a best lap of 1:19.745.

Shaikh Hamad moved on to claim the chequered flag after the first 15-lap race in 20:19.686.

Karimi driving a yellow Honda CRX followed in second place 7.788s behind while Ashkanani in a black Honda S2000 was third, 8.229s back.

Abdulrahman Ghuloom (black/blue Civic) finished fourth, Raed Himmo (white Honda CRX) fifth and Alex Longden (white BMW 3 Series/F20C) sixth.

Challenge returnees Stephen Kellogg (black Civic) and Tim Birkin (white Honda Integra) rounded out the race one classification.

Karimi clocked the race’s fastest lap of 1:20.196.

In race two, Shaikh Hamad had a five-second gap ahead of Karimi before the session was red-flagged. Ashkanani was third, Himmo fourth, Birkin fifth and Kellogg sixth.

Shaikh Hamad had the fastest lap in race two of 1:19.970.

The winners were presented their prizes in a podium ceremony attended by officials from BIC, Bahrain Motor Federation and Circuit Racing Club.

There are eight rounds in all in the 2014-2015 season of the BIC 2,000cc Challenge. Round three will take place on December 19, which will mark the last event of the calendar year.

Round four will usher in 2015 on January 16. The season’s fifth round is then slated for February 6, to be followed by round six on March 6.

The seventh and penultimate meeting is then scheduled for April 24 and the season-finale for May 1.
For more information on what’s going on at BIC, visit the official website, www.bahraingp.com, or call the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000

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