Drivers are ready and raring to go one last time in the final round of the Batelco 2000CC Challenge season due this weekend as they look set to win top prize money.
                                                  
As Mustafa Al Khan has secured his lead with a staggering 130 points, the fight will be on this weekend for second and third positions. Shaikh Jaber bin Ali Al Khalifa who currently stands in second place with 94 points, whilst Mohammed Saleh is in third with 84 points will be fighting one last time for second place. Meanwhile, battles continue for fourth position between Abdul Rahman Ghuloom and Ali Al Kubaisi as they are separated by just six points as Rashid Al Jowder could fight them for fourth as he holds onto 62 points.
 
During the penultimate round, 16 cars were seen hitting the track for the first time ever, with more expected but three resulted in no-shows. Mustafa Al Khan who has already managed to secure first position fought through several difficulties in the last round, leaving Shaikh Jaber, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Hisham Al Othman to fight for the top spots.
 
But the best of the action that weekend was left until last as competition intensified between Shaikh Jaber and Shaikh Hamad for first place throughout the third and 11th lap but it was a fight to be won by Shaikh Hamad who finished 2.965 seconds ahead of Shaikh Jaber.
Following a hugely successful inaugural season, title sponsor Batelco stepped up the prize money this year which will see the top five finishers awarded as opposed to last year where only first, second and third positions were awarded prize money.
The Batelco 2000CC Challenge has seen increased competition and record numbers of drivers join in the competition this season as leading telecommunications company, Batelco, continues its support as title sponsor. Organized by the Circuit Racing Club and sanctioned by the Bahrain Motor Federation, the Batelco 2000CC Challenge is promoted by Bahrain International Circuit.
The action continues this weekend in the final round of the season on May 8 from 9.30am through to 4.30pm. Fans are invited to watch the action from the Batelco Grandstand for two dinars for adults and one dinar for children. For further information contact the BIC Hotline or read up on the action from the Batelco 2000CC Challenge on www.bahraingp.com.

The Batelco 2000CC Challenge witnessed the fiercest battle of all this weekend as drivers showed no relent, through wind and rain, as they fought for top positions in the penultimate round of the season.

During the practice sessions, 16 cars were seen hitting the track for the first time ever, with more expected but three resulted in no-shows. Mustafa Al Khan showed a promising starts as he logged the fastest lap time this morning with a time of 1:20.146 minutes followed by first-time joiner, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, in his Honda Civic, with a 0.082-second difference. Meanwhile, Mohammed Saleh took third with a time of 1:21.531 minutes. Saleh had the misfortune of having his car breakdown only to have it later replaced by team-mate Shaikh Salman who offered his car to continue the team’s fight for a top position.

The qualifier saw Shaikh Jaber bin Ali Al Khalifa already warmed up as he got the fastest lap time of 1:18.307 minutes followed closely by Mohammed Saleh with 1:19.825 minutes and third was Hisham Al Othman with 1:20.962 minutes.

Meanwhile, Al Khan faced problems, once again, with his engine which resulted in him finishing a disappointing twelfth position and 9.799 seconds behind the lead.

But with much disappointment, failures and retirements, things could only get better as race one witnessed some intense competition and fights on track as well. Al Khan’s mechanical problems were still unresolved and following an attempt to repair the issue he started the race but was forced to withdraw after a meagre two laps. Shaikh Jaber continued to take the lead and left Shaikh Hamad and Al Othman to throw their gauntlets down for a fight for second and third place.

Saleh’s issues got bigger as he was forced to retire from the grid right from the word ‘go’. This round, it was Shaikh Hamad who outshone the remaining drivers in his first-ever appearance in the Batelco 2000CC Challenge, as he powered through and overtook Hisham Al Othman to finish in second place.

At the end of the first race, Shaikh Jaber finished with a time of 15:56.461 minutes, whilst Shaikh Hamad followed 14.119 seconds behind and Al Othman came in third with a 31.273-second gape from the leader.

The battle continued in the second race as none of the drivers showed any relent. With the first seven positions reversed on the grid, Shaikh Jaber put the remaining drivers through their paces, including Shaikh Hamad and Al Othman, as he sliced his way through the entire grid, only to put himself back into first place after just two laps.

But the best of the weekend’s action was certainly left until last as competition intensified and the claws came out for a true ‘clash of the titans’ between Shaikh Jaber and Shaikh Hamad as they battled for first place between the third and 11th lap. At the final lap, Shaikh Hamad claimed his well-earned victory as he overtook Shaikh Jaber and finished 2.965 seconds ahead with a time of 16:04.599 minutes whilst Shaikh Jaber settled for 16:07.563 minutes putting him into second place for the first time this season.

Al Othman finished in third with a time of 16:54.171 minutes, and a bout of misfortune struck both Mohammed Saleh and Mustafa Al Khan on this very gloomy day, as Saleh was forced to retire from both races and Al Khan did not start.

The Batelco 2000CC Challenge has seen increased competition and record numbers of drivers join in the competition this season as leading telecommunications company, Batelco, continues its support as title sponsor. Organized by the Circuit Racing Club and sanctioned by the Bahrain Motor Federation, the Batelco 2000CC Challenge is promoted by Bahrain International Circuit.

The action continues in the final round of the season on May 8. For further information contact the BIC Hotline or read up on the action from the Batelco 2000CC Challenge on www.bahraingp.com.

Motorsport fans and enthusiasts are invited to join in this weekend’s excitement as the fourth round of the ALBA Bahrain National Drag Racing Championship kicks off as the seventh round of the Batelco 2000CC Challenge sets the track alight once again.

The Batelco battle intensifies in the penultimate round

The Batelco 2000CC Challenge has seen increased competition and record numbers of drivers join in the competition this season as leading telecommunications company, Batelco, continues its support as title sponsor. Organized by the Circuit Racing Club and sanctioned by the Bahrain Motor Federation, the Batelco 2000CC Challenge is promoted by Bahrain International Circuit.

Having seen competition intensify ten-fold in the last round following battles between top drivers, more looks set to take place this weekend in the penultimate round of the season. Since the start of the season Mustafa Al Khan was seen securing a lead two rounds ago as he persisted to battle all competition as Shaikh Jaber bin Ali Al Khalifa and last season’s champion, Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, joined in the Challenge.

Racing aboard his one-of-a-kind Honda Integra, Shaikh Jaber, who is currently in third with 72 points, was quick to take the lead and shows a potential to steal second place from Mohammed Saleh who stands in second overall with 84 points.

To add to the excitement Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa will also be taking part in the last two rounds. Shaikh Hamad had previously been seen karting for the Unstoppabulls Racing Team, competing in the Formula BMW series as well as last year’s Lumina CSV Middle East Championship and is now setting his sights on the Batelco 2000CC Challenge.

As the penultimate round looks set to take place tomorrow, Friday, from 9.30am through to 4.30pm, fans are invited to watch the action from the Batelco Grandstand for two dinars for adults and one dinar for children.