Sports | Sunday 22 January, 2017 1:51 pm |

More than a hundred of the best urban racers and their street racing machines set the drag strip alight at Yas Marina Circuit this weekend for Round 1 of Yas Super Street Challenge.  Drivers from across the GCC and as far afield as Russia came to battle it out for AED 25,000 in cash prizes as well as taking one step closer to becoming ‘King of the Street’.

Throughout the two-day event spectators witnessed more than 100 racers putting their souped-up machines to the test in Round 1 of the region’s rawest, grittiest, ultra-competitive environment across five separate categories that included; ‘4x4 Super Street SUV’; ‘Index 11.5’; ‘Index 10.5’; ‘Index 9.0’ and ‘Super Street – Open Category’.

Each of the four rounds will prove vital when it comes to accruing enough points over the season to be ultimately crowned ‘King of the Street’ and rule over their fellow urban racers in this ultra-competitive street challenge.

Setting out his tyre-spinning stall early and proving fastest in the ‘Super Street - Open Category’ in his Ford Mustang, Hisham Ibrahim scooped the AED15,000 top prize when he beat the UAE’s Saeed Ali Saeed in his Nissan GT-R and KSA’s Saud Al Saud, also in a Nissan GT-R, finishing in second and third respectively.  

The ‘Index 9.0’ top spot was taken by Alla Hammouri in his Chevrolet Camaro, followed in second by Ojesthingh driving a Lamborghini, with Mohamood Al Attar placing third in his Nissan GT-R.  

The ‘4x4’ competition proved to be an epic battle but ultimately Sulaiman Al Khayyat in his GMC prevailed on the quarter mile, leaving Rashed Al Falasi and his Gloria pick-up in second, followed by Abdulla Al Marar driving his Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT in third place. 

The Round 1 ‘10.5 Index’ champion in was Adel Al Ghanem, whose Corvette triumphed over Maher Elroz’s Dodge Challenger, with Hesham Al Khateeb’s Porsche clocking the third fastest time.

Finally, Tarish Al Qubaisi in his Mercedes drove a superb series of races to snatch top spot in the ’11.5 Index’ category. Khaled Al Blooshi clinched the runner up spot in his Corvette with Selah Al Mouri collecting a respectable third driving his CLS - Mercedes.

“The first round of Yas Super Street Challenge was the perfect opener to the 2017 motorsport racing season at Yas Marina Circuit. The talent on show grows year on year and this round was no different, it was very competitive and extremely exciting to watch.” said Saud Al Qaydi, Motorsport Manager at Yas Marina Circuit.

“We witnessed some epic battles and some truly exceptional racing over the weekend where old rivalries were renewed and new ones made.  This season promises to be even more closely fought than last year as they all fight for the ‘King of the Street’ title. I can’t wait until the next round to see who will take one step closer to being named the ultimate urban racing champion.”

Round 2 of Yas Super Street Challenge will take place on 24th and 25th February with tickets starting from as little as AED 50 and AED 30 for students with a valid student ID.