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The British School of Bahrain (BSB) students are gearing up for an experience of a lifetime, the opportunity to race at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) as part of the region’s first Junior Drag Racing School.
The home of motorsports continues to move forward on its mission of grooming and developing young racers in the kingdom. This time the BIC is targeting schools on its search for future drag racing stars between the ages of 10 and 15.
BIC’s business development executive Rodney Davies said: “We are looking to develop the future generation of drag drivers in Bahrain. It’s like any racing championship. You need to start them young and bring them on. This is what we are doing and Bahrain should be very proud for being the first of its kind with this project.”
Adel Shaji, BIC’s drag racing department’s assistant manager and instructor, surprised BSB’s students during recess with a short blast of the sounds of a growling junior dragster parked in the playground.
A group of children soon surrounded the car chanting and urging Adel to ‘turn it back on’ while other students interested in joining the one-day-course signed up with Amanda Ferguson of BSB’s marketing department.
Adel said: “It will be the first Drag Racing School of its kind out of the US but I was still really surprised at the amount of interest it has generated.
“The first course will be an introductory base class teaching students how to drive them. By the end of the day, the entrants should be able to race side-by-side on the track and will be able to gain certification to race in future drag competitions. We are also planning to form a championship in the future so that the youngsters can take part in regular sessions.
“We started at the British School of Bahrain and will visit other schools as well as companies in the near future to discuss the project.”
Aside from training youngsters on how to tame the roaring four-wheeled mean machines, Adel, who has been crowned as a drag racing champion in more than 12 competitions in Bahrain, added: “Our motto is safety first and parents can trust that safety issues will be a priority.
“We will teach the students what to do and how to stay safe. The cars are safe as well because there are two off switches inside the car and even one on the outside. The dragster also runs out of fuel at the 200-metre mark and the car will just shut off.”
The Junior Drag Racing School boasts six junior dragsters which can travel one eighth of a mile (200 metres) in under nine seconds and can reach speeds of between 90-120 kmph. The students will learn the basics of driving the machine and the course will include six runs and six burn-outs on the drag strip.
Classmates and friends Adreej Parmaj, Vansh Patel and Adam Nasr were eager to be the first of the junior drag racers in the Gulf and are anxiously waiting for their parents’ permission to take part.
Adreej, 10, from Adliya, said: “I really want to join the course and have been interested in racing ever since I was three. The car brought by the BIC was amazing and I loved it when they turned it on.”
Vansh, 10, from Adliya, said: “I have always liked sports cars and I really hope that my parents say yes. I like drag racing a lot and they know it. BIC please teach me all the racing you know and let me go at full speed!”
Adam, 10, from Riffa Views, said: “I’m excited about trying out the car. I want to be a race car driver like Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.”
Seventh grader Cailum Alexander Lawson, 11, from Saar, was also thrilled by the thought of joining the course. He said: “I have watched three drag races and am always amazed by the start because the wheels expand really quickly. I think it’s just magnificent.”
By the end of the introductory school session, the sign-up sheet was full with boys and girls ready to take in the drag racing challenge. Davies said: “Whether they plan to take this on as a new sport or do it just for fun, these students could be the first in the region to join.”
The school’s marketing team has been working closely with the BIC discussing various ideas and joint promotions.
The full day course at the BIC costs BD160 and the maximum height for children is 1.6m. For further details contact 17450000.
