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Tribune News Network
DOHA
Ghanim al Maadheed overcame a serious engine issue and posted a thrilling double in the 2K Class during the third round at the Qatar Touring Car Championship at the Losail International Circuit.
With the grid growing to 27 cars, another weekend of exciting racing was guaranteed and it happened exactly with Maadheed collecting valuable 32 points from both the races in Lotus Elise and leading championship with 76 points.
Maadheed had his engine damaged during the Qualifying session on Friday but managed to fix the car on time and be ready for the race.
In the first race, Maadheed finished first in 24:54.727, followed by Mohamed al Aseeri in a Honda Civic. Hamad al Asam secured third spot in Honda VC5. With the reverse grid in the second race, it took only one lap for Maadheed to overtake the front cars and take the lead in his category.
Maadheed went on to claim the second race in front of Nasser al Ahbabi in a Toyota GT86 and Abdulla al Abbasi, behind the wheel of Honda Integra.
“I had an engine problem during the Qualifying session on Friday and needed to change the whole engine. The team worked very hard to fix it. Although the car is not 100 percent, I am very happy to win both the races this weekend,” Maadheed commented.
In the QTCC M240 Class first race, Nasser Saadon al Kuwari was followed by Hamad al Sulaiti and Saadon al Kuwari. Nasser maintained the lead from the start to the finish. Abdulla al Khelaifi had a mechanical issue in the last lap and could not finish the first race.
“This weekend I learnt a lot from Abdulla and Hamad. I want to thank them. The first race was very good. I was smart at the start. Due to delayed start, the other drivers were tense, while I was cool down. After the second green light, I jumped first. With the circuit clear in front of me, I did two or three flying laps to open a gap and managed the race well from the start to the finish,” Nasser said.
In the second race of QTCC M240, Sulaiti grabbed the first position, beating Khelaifi by less than two seconds and Saadon al Kuwari by over six seconds.
Sulaiti was extremely delighted with his first victory. “This weekend has been amazing - second in the first race and the winner in the second race. In the second race, I started from back but finished first. This is incredible for me. Also I did the fastest lap so I cannot ask for more in my first season in this championship,” Sulaiti said.
Trophies were presented by Abdulrahman al Mannai (QMMF President), Abdulrazak al Kuwari (QMMF General Secretary) and Khalid al Remaihi (LCSC Vice-President & General Manager).
The next round will be on February 7 and 8.ResultsQTCC M240 Race 1 (10 laps)
1.Nasser SAADON (QAT) BMW 22:51.842
2.Hamad AL-SULAITI (QAT) BMW 22:58.583
3.Saadon AL-KUWARI (QAT) BMW 23:09.283
QTCC 2K Race 1
1.Ghanim AL-MAADHEED (QAT) Lotus Elise 24:54.727
2.Mohd AL-ASEERI (QAT) Honda Civic 24:55.103
3.Hamad AL-ASAM (QAT) Honda VC5 24:59.252
QTCC M240 Race 2 (10 laps)
1.Hamad AL-SULAITI (QAT) BMW 22:52.604
2.Abdulla AL-KHELAIFI (QAT) BMW 22:54.313
3.Saadon AL-KUWARI (QAT) BMW 22:58.829
QTCC 2K Race 2
1.Ghanim AL-MAADHEED (QAT) Lotus Elise 24:47.808
2.Nasser AL-AHBABI (QAT) Toyota GT86 24:50.950
3.Abdulla AL-ABBASI (QAT) Honda Integra 25:00.762
DOHA
Ghanim al Maadheed overcame a serious engine issue and posted a thrilling double in the 2K Class during the third round at the Qatar Touring Car Championship at the Losail International Circuit.
With the grid growing to 27 cars, another weekend of exciting racing was guaranteed and it happened exactly with Maadheed collecting valuable 32 points from both the races in Lotus Elise and leading championship with 76 points.
Maadheed had his engine damaged during the Qualifying session on Friday but managed to fix the car on time and be ready for the race.
In the first race, Maadheed finished first in 24:54.727, followed by Mohamed al Aseeri in a Honda Civic. Hamad al Asam secured third spot in Honda VC5. With the reverse grid in the second race, it took only one lap for Maadheed to overtake the front cars and take the lead in his category.
Maadheed went on to claim the second race in front of Nasser al Ahbabi in a Toyota GT86 and Abdulla al Abbasi, behind the wheel of Honda Integra.
“I had an engine problem during the Qualifying session on Friday and needed to change the whole engine. The team worked very hard to fix it. Although the car is not 100 percent, I am very happy to win both the races this weekend,” Maadheed commented.
In the QTCC M240 Class first race, Nasser Saadon al Kuwari was followed by Hamad al Sulaiti and Saadon al Kuwari. Nasser maintained the lead from the start to the finish. Abdulla al Khelaifi had a mechanical issue in the last lap and could not finish the first race.
“This weekend I learnt a lot from Abdulla and Hamad. I want to thank them. The first race was very good. I was smart at the start. Due to delayed start, the other drivers were tense, while I was cool down. After the second green light, I jumped first. With the circuit clear in front of me, I did two or three flying laps to open a gap and managed the race well from the start to the finish,” Nasser said.
In the second race of QTCC M240, Sulaiti grabbed the first position, beating Khelaifi by less than two seconds and Saadon al Kuwari by over six seconds.
Sulaiti was extremely delighted with his first victory. “This weekend has been amazing - second in the first race and the winner in the second race. In the second race, I started from back but finished first. This is incredible for me. Also I did the fastest lap so I cannot ask for more in my first season in this championship,” Sulaiti said.
Trophies were presented by Abdulrahman al Mannai (QMMF President), Abdulrazak al Kuwari (QMMF General Secretary) and Khalid al Remaihi (LCSC Vice-President & General Manager).
The next round will be on February 7 and 8.ResultsQTCC M240 Race 1 (10 laps)
1.Nasser SAADON (QAT) BMW 22:51.842
2.Hamad AL-SULAITI (QAT) BMW 22:58.583
3.Saadon AL-KUWARI (QAT) BMW 23:09.283
QTCC 2K Race 1
1.Ghanim AL-MAADHEED (QAT) Lotus Elise 24:54.727
2.Mohd AL-ASEERI (QAT) Honda Civic 24:55.103
3.Hamad AL-ASAM (QAT) Honda VC5 24:59.252
QTCC M240 Race 2 (10 laps)
1.Hamad AL-SULAITI (QAT) BMW 22:52.604
2.Abdulla AL-KHELAIFI (QAT) BMW 22:54.313
3.Saadon AL-KUWARI (QAT) BMW 22:58.829
QTCC 2K Race 2
1.Ghanim AL-MAADHEED (QAT) Lotus Elise 24:47.808
2.Nasser AL-AHBABI (QAT) Toyota GT86 24:50.950
3.Abdulla AL-ABBASI (QAT) Honda Integra 25:00.762
