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Speed Trip 10 – Bahrain International Circuit 12/13 March 2009
16th March 2009
The 10th annual Speed Trip event took place at Bahrain International Circuit. The event attracts a wide array of exotic and performance cars, and incorporates numerous family attractions and displays for the hundreds of like-minded petrol-heads from all over the Gulf Region.
A range of Autocross, sprints, drag racing and open track sessions took place on both the Grand Prix circuit and the inner loop of the impressive facility event. Only this year, there was a difference!
For the first time in its history, Speed Trip included a ‘wheel-to-wheel’ race, courtesy of HRH Abdulaziz Al Faisal and Radical Saudi Arabia, a twelve-car, two-class Radical race was held on the Sunday, in front of an enthusiastic and very vocal crowd of spectators.
The cars and equipment had been shipped from Saudi Arabia in seven container-loads, especially for the event.
The 12-lap race included both 1300cc and 1500cc Radical SR3’s driven by “veteran” and “novice” Radical racers alike. Plus there was a guest appearance from Kuwaiti driver Talal Al Reyes in his blue SR4.
Medhat Sheikh Al Ard qualified on pole alongside 16-year-old Fahad Algosaibi – son of Speed Trip organiser, Fawaz Algosaibi in P2.
For six laps Medhat and Fahad vied for the lead, swapping places several times, and several other battles for position were being waged throughout the whole grid to the delight of the cheering fans.
Medhat emerged victorious at the end, with first-time racer Khaled El Waleed in second and Bandar Alireza third, driving the carbon SR3 belonging to Al Reem Circuit manager, Raed Abuzenadh.
After the race, Radical Sales Director Nick Dove said, “it is a great achievement to gather 12 cars for the first race organised by Radical Saudi Arabia, and certainly bodes well for an exciting and competitive series, starting in May. HRH Abdulaziz has built a great team, and they now have a purpose-built Radical showroom in Riyadh from which to base their operations.”