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Close encounter with Massa

February 13 - 19, 2008
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Gulf Weekly Close encounter with Massa

Felipe Massa kicked off ITHMAAR Group Yalla Bahrain! signing autographs for hundreds of adoring fans.

The Ithmaar Group Yalla Bahrain! programme of cultural and community events celebrating Formula One in Bahrain began with a star appearance by Ferrari driver Massa at Seef Mall.

A crowd of more than 2,000 fans filled the western expansion of the mall on Friday to greet the winner of last year's Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the 'Racing With a Star' event.

Around 200 fans got the chance to meet the driver and have posters, hats and photographs signed after Massa chatted with the crowd and MC Anwar.

The evening included an array of entertainment including a race simulator competition giving crowds the chance to race around the Bahrain International Circuit and the lucky player who posted the fastest lap of the night won a Ferrari T-shirt.

The Yalla events continued the following day with the highly-competitive 'F1 Football Fives' at the Bahrain International Circuit which attracted 32 teams.

GulfWeekly's star team - featuring reporter Mai Al Khatib's little brother, Yousif, 23, included a couple of 'ringers' (professional footballers rather than fat hacks) and were muscled out by the bruisers from Bapco in the knock-out stages, 3-1.

After a day of frenzied football action Bapco emerged victorious.

The matches reached fever pitch during the two semi-finals, the first between the BIC Conquerors and EuroMotors.

After 12 action-packed minutes of bold passes and one sending off, the BIC Conquerors came out on top and progressed to the final.

Meanwhile, the second semi-final was just as frantic between Bapco and the Immortals, at the final whistle it was two goals apiece so the match was decided by penalties.

Bapco showed their determination and coolness and ended the penalty shootout three goals to two.

The final between Bapco and the BIC Conquerors was somewhat one-sided as Bapco took an early lead. At the final whistle it was Bapco three, the BIC Conquerors nil; Bapco walked away with the winners trophy and the BIC Conquerors were resigned to second place. In the playoffs the Immortals put away four goals to EuroMotors one taking third place overall and the final trophy of the day.

The F1 Football Fives event was held alongside a pre-season F1 test open day, in which both the Ferrari and the Toyota Formula One teams took part.

There was also a host of entertainment for visitors young and old including a display by football freestyler Daniel Magnuss, a DJ, stilt walkers and a bouncy castle.

The Ithmaar Group Yalla Bahrain! programme of cultural and community events continues with F1 Paint Bahrain which will see schools, universities, businesses and clubs from across the kingdom coming together for an artistic challenge.

Others events include:

F1 Car Building Challenge - Soap Box-style car building and racing March 1-14, raceday March 14 in Manama.

F1 Drive-In Movie Night - Blockbuster movie and family entertainment, BIC, March 7

F1 Xtreme - Urban sports, motor sport displays, stunt bikes, drifting, live performances and DJ competition together with family entertainment, Manama seafront, March 28-29.

Khalifa Hassan, 39, Mahooz:

"It is my first time here and I am enjoying myself. I am supporting one of my friends playing in the football competition and I brought my kids to watch. We are also going to the F1 practice session as well. The kids have been running around and having a great time."

Jenan Aamer, 18, Hamad Town:

"The event is better than I thought it would be. I had already gone to the testing as well. It was really noisy. At first I was cheering for Ferrari but after watching them practice I now want Toyota to win the championship."

Jaap W. Vaandrager, 47, a Lumina race ace from the Netherlands, who now lives in Hamala, was with his children Willemiem, five, Jacob, six, and Charlotte, eight, and Celine, 10, at the event.

"I am here supporting my co-driver Raed who is playing football today and my children also enjoy coming here."







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