VETERAN Bahraini drag racer Khalid Mohammed is making an inspiring comeback to competition this weekend following a season-long hiatus from the Bahrain Drag Racing Championship.
Mohammed has joined the E Kanoo Racing Team and is representing his new outfit in the Pro Mod category.
This weekend’s events, taking place at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir, mark the second round of the 2012/2013 drag racing season. It is being held as part of the National Racing Festival in Sakhir.
Mohammed last competed in the Bahrain championship two seasons ago when he was a prominent member of another leading Bahraini team.
“I’m looking forward to getting back out there and racing,” said Mohammed, who began his comeback by participating in the Test and Tune held yesterday evening. “I’d like to thank Ebrahim Kanoo and all the members of the E Kanoo Racing Team for giving me this opportunity.”
Mohammed will get a taste of head-to-head action once again when the meeting holds its Qualifying runs tonight starting at 7pm. Race Day is then slated for tomorrow, beginning from 6pm.
Mohammed is competing in the renowned ’69 Camaro he used to drive, which now features a new engine built by Pati Musi Performance from the US plus an all-new livery.
“It’s not a totally new car, but I’ll be running with a new set-up for the quarter-mile,” Mohammed explained. “I’m really excited about being out there again and getting good times.
“I’m expecting to see some of the same guys who I used to race against in the past in the Pro Mod. We all have slightly different cars, so the level is going to be raised, but I’m determined to do well and to make my team proud.”
Mohammed is joined on the E Kanoo Racing Team by team leader Ebrahim Kanoo and seasoned American racer Gary White, both of whom compete in the Outlaw RWD class. The team also has another car, one that is entered in the championship’s Super Street V8 category.
In all, over 100 participants from Bahrain and across the Gulf are expected to take part this weekend.
There are 12 competition categories in the series, including nine for cars and three for bikes, including the Pro Mod, the Outlaw RWD, the Super Street V8, the Street FWD/RWD, Super Street Outlaw FWD, Super Street RWD, Street V8, Competition 7.5, Outlaw 10.5, Pro Mod, Street Bike, Super Street Bike and Pro Bike.
Elsewhere in the coming round, Mohammed Salama of Zain Drag Racing Team will be trading in his Dragster challenger for a Pontiac Firebird.
Form
Salama races in the Competition 7.5 class, and hopes that he and teammate Hussain Mohammed can continue the good form they have started the year with this weekend.
“This season, our team has so far had a great start,” said Salama. “My teammate Hussain and I took second and third place from round one, and we hope we can improve on that.
“We as a team are ready to compete; we were able to test the car during the Drag Night at BIC and our set-up is ready. We have been racing together with Zain since 2010, so we know how to work well with each other.
This weekend’s National Racing Festival at BIC also features both drag racing as well as the third round of the 2012/2013 BIC 2,000cc Challenge.
All are welcome to attend the weekend’s events. Tickets are available at the Welcome Centre located at BIC’s main entrance.
For drag racing, fans can choose between seats overlooking the strip’s start line or seats at the Batelco Grandstand. Start line tickets cost BD5 apiece while Batelco Grandstand tickets are BD3 each. The cost covers the action on Thursday and Friday.
Tickets to watch the 2,000cc Challenge on Friday morning and afternoon cost BD2 per person.
All tickets are half the price for children aged 15 years old and below.
For more information on this weekend’s National Racing Festival at BIC, visit the circuit’s official website, www.bahraingp.com, or call the circuit hotline on +973-17-450000.