Jackson powers to victory

Manama : Steve Jackson from the US powered Bahrain1Racing to a resounding victory in the Pro Mod category to highlight a thrilling opening round in the 2016/2017 Bahrain Drag Racing Championship at the Bahrain International Circuit’s (BIC) world-class quarter-mile drag strip.

Jackson defeated Kuwaiti Bader Korshid in the final in the ultra competitive Pro Mod class. He had a blistering run of 3.824 seconds with a speed of 314.86kph in his Camaro while Korshid could only manage a 5.247s time after having car issues.

In their first round elimination runs, Jackson beat countryman Gary White of E Kanoo Racing Team in the semi-finals while Korshid overcame Qatari Mahana Naemi. 

In the first round of eliminations, Jackson got the better of Bahrain1Racing teammate Khaled Al Belooshi, whereas Korshid defeated popular lady drag racer Lizzy Musi of Al Anabi Racing Team.  White had beaten Khalil Al Ansari to go through and Naemi beat Mustafa Al Atat.

Jackson attributed his unexpected victory to the work ethic of his crew and their approach to the season, which they barely had time to get ready for.

He is just one of several legendary names in drag racing who are a part of the new season’s Pro Mod field, and he knows that winning in the first round doesn’t guarantee anything as the season goes on.

“It was definitely there,” Jackson said of the high level of competition in the season-opener. “When you look at some of the times people were running, it’s not as fast as people will get. And by the next race, everyone will step it up. We will try to step up with them.”

White and Musi were unlucky on Race Day as they both were unable to get the best out of their respective cars. Elsewhere in the first round, White made up for his Pro Mod loss by taking the Outlaw 6-Cylinder class over Yousif Al Zayani; while E Kanoo Racing teammate Khaled Mohammed followed suit with a big win over Turki Al Humedi in the Super Street V8 class.

In the other categories, Mohammed Al Jalahma won the Street 4 and 6 after beating Jamil Ebrahim Hilal; Zakaria Al Kohajee clinched the Outlaw Front-Wheel-Drive victory after beating Mohamed Mubarak; Hamad Al Murbati won the Super Street 6-Cylinder following a final win over Nawaf Ahmed; and Mohamed Sulyman won the Street V8 after beating Salah Salahuddin.

Mohamed Busayloom won the Competition 4.5 category after beating Hisham Al Mulla in the final and Duaij Al Fahad Al Sabah won the Outlaw 10.5 after beating Yousuf Mohammed Al Ali.

Suliman Dawood beat Saleh Janahi in the Index 10.5 class; Ali Abdulla Mohammed defeated Mohamed Al Dosari for first place in the Index 9.5 category.