Raed is out to prove mettle

YOUNG race ace Raed Raffii is back home where he belongs and hopes to show his racing credentials once again in a new car competing against some of the fastest men on wheels in the region.

The 21-year-old from Sanad is gearing up for the second round of the challenging Chevrolet Supercars Middle East Championship that will be held at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir on Friday and Saturday.

The Chevrolet Supercars Middle East Championship is part of the three racing series, 'Speed Weekend Bahrain', event which is likely to attract thousands of motor sport fans.

Raffii said: 'My aim is to either win or at least secure a spot on the podium. As a Bahraini it is only right that we make our mark and win points before the next race in Saudi Arabia in January.

'What works in my favour is the experience I have gained over the years driving at the BIC. However, I have never driven this car on the track so testing and collecting data before the race will be essential. This is a very big event for us.'

Raffii is an executive assistant at BNP Paribas Bank and enjoys racing as part of the Meezer Group. The group was founded by Fahad Hizam Al Harbi in 2009 with the aim to offer complete motor sporting solutions to enthusiasts.

Raffii said: 'I had dreams of becoming an F1 driver but I know it is too late now. I still love to race and am not ruling out any options. I am happy to be a part of Meezer and hope to make them proud over the weekend.'

After a competitive first round last month as part of the Grand Prix weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, Raffii, who is competing in the SCO9 class, secured two points after driving home in seventh place out of 12 drivers.

Raffii's driving aspirations started 10 years ago with the support of his father, Nasser, who first got him hooked on go-kart racing. He was later invited to test at the circuit where he then enrolled in the Formula BMW course and then the Thunder Arabia racing classes. He immediately impressed Thunder Arabia team founder Hassan Al Wardany and was snapped up.

In 2005, Raffii succeeded in securing the Thunder Arabia Formula Ford Championship title at the age of 16.

As Raffii anxiously awaits Speed Weekend to start, not all his family are at ease with his love of speed. Raffii's mother Azeeta, for example, still worries every time he races. Raffii admitted: 'My mother used to be scared all the time but she is getting better. She would sit in front of the television with the entire family to watch me race whilst crying throughout until I came home. She didn't realise that at times it was safer to race on tracks such as the BIC than drive normally on the roads!'