The 2008-2009 ALBA Bahrain National Drag Racing Championship came to a
thrilling conclusion over the weekend at Bahrain International Circuit.
After another action-packed year that saw record-breaking times, unforgettable performances, near-death crashes and heated rivalries all across the field, there was plenty to look forward to in the season finale and what transpired did not disappoint.
Close to 100 cars and bikes competed in the sixth and final meeting, which witnessed the coronation of some of the region's top drag racers in their respective categories.
Among those celebrating were Bahrain1 Racing owned by Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa and SPG Team. Both were among the top performers in the Pro Mod category.
While SPG ace Ali Al Kaabi won the season's final race, Bahrain1 drivers Ali Aryan and Khalid Mohammed did enough to finish first and second overall.
Al Kaabi was a comfortable winner over Mohammed in the Pro Mod final. He won after clocking 6.359 seconds with a speed of 359.12 kph, while Mohammed suffered some problems in his car and finished in 15.863 seconds while racking up a speed of 84.14 kph.
Aryan finished third, but it was enough to clinch him the Pro Mod crown with 1,900 points.
Khalid Mohammed had 1,600 points, while Robert Von Smith of Al Anabi Team from Qatar came third overall with 1,300 points.
Plenty of other action was seen elsewhere, with many of Bahrain's top drivers emerging victorious. Al Sham team members Fadhel Saleh (11.620 seconds) and Mohammed Saleh (11.633 seconds) claimed a one-two in the Street Fwd class.
Saad Al Mooran of Top Speed Team (8.409 seconds) was also a close winner. He claimed the Super Street Rwd win over Ebrahim Kanoo (8.455 seconds).
Salah Salahuddin claimed the Outlaw 10.5 category in 7.215 seconds. He beat Saudi Arabia's Nasser Saadudin, who had a time of 8.624 seconds.
In the Pro Bike class, it was Kuwait's Mohammed Bu Rashid who finished first in 7.333 seconds, convincingly ahead of Nawaf Al Dooseri from Saudi (9.506 seconds).
Among the winners this season were Mohammed Saleh in the Street Fwd, Sayed Nader in the Street Rwd, Ahmed Al Zaabi in Street V8, Bader Janahi in the Super Street Fwd, Saad Almooran in the Super Street Rwd, Mohammed Qassim in the Super Street V8, Hisham Al Mulla in the
Competition 7.5, Bader Janahi once again in the Outlaw Fwd, Mohammed Saeed in the Outlaw Rwd, Salahuddin in the Outlaw 10.5, Khalid Al Dooseri in the Street Bike, Mishal Al Turki in the Super Street Bike and Mishal Al Saaber in the Pro Bike.
The championship was organised by the Bahrain Drag Racing Club, sanctioned by the Bahrain Motor Federation and sponsored by Alba.