Elzahrawi doubles in Bahrain Touring Car Challenge

TDT | Manama

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Moaaz Elzahrawi clinched a fantastic double to headline the list of winners in the fourth round of National Race Day this 2024/2025 season, held over the weekend at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.

Elzahraw took the chequered flag in both the meeting’s races in the Bahrain Touring Car Challenge (BTCC).

Mean while , Mohamad Alzaidan and Nawaf Al Shuaibi triumphed in their respective classes in the Bahrain Motorcycle Championship (BMC), and Yazeed Sameer Al Saheel, Hisham Bediea Al Bediea, Sultan Tamer Kayello, Mohamed Sami Aldoseri, Sultan Turki Alsaud, and Maan Mahmoud Al Jabrah were those who emerged victorious in the various categories of Time Attack.

The BTCC, BMC, and Time Attack made for a packed National Race Day programme at ‘The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East’, where the action took place along BIC’s 2.55-kilometre Inner Track.

The event was organised by BIC, the Bahrain Motor Federation, the Circuit Racing Commission, the Bahrain Motorcycle Commission, the Bahrain Autocross and Drift Commission, and the Motorsport Marshals Club.

In the BTCC, Moaaz Elzahrawi was the man to beat from the opening session. Behind the wheel of his Honda Civic, he led practice with a fastest lap that was 0.597s quicker than Isa Ebrahim, also in a Civic. Then, in qualifying, Elzahrawi captured pole with a best time of one minute 17.716 seconds – 1.206 seconds quicker than Ebrahim.

Maintaining pace

Elzahrawi maintained his strong pace in race one where he won with a total time of 20:02.262 after 15 laps – 5.512 seconds ahead of Ebrahim. Andreas Buelow, also driving a Civic, finished third 17.236s adrift. In race two, Elzahrawi won in 24:33.537 – just 2.165s ahead of Buelow. The Radio Bahrain entrant, driving a Honda Integra, claimed the other podium step in third 10.843s from the victor.

Ali Baqer, also in a Honda Civic, claimed first place in both races in the BTCC’s Junior class. In the BMC, Mo h a m a d Alzaidan was the overall winner of the round’s sole race.

He also was first in the 600cc category on his Kawasaki ZX6 bike, completing the 14-lap sprint in 16:41.673. Ali Bou Shehri on a Honda CBR 600RR came second overall 9.918s behind, while Nawaf Al Shuaibi completed the overall podium in third, while also taking the win amongst the 1,000cc riders. Al Shuaibi was 25.333s off Alzaidan’s mark, riding his Honda CPR 100 RR.

Joining Alzaidan and Bou Shehri on the 600cc podium was Abdulrahman Ahmed, also on a Honda CBR 600RR, in third.

Amongst the 1,000cc riders, Hassan Al Awadhi and Mujahed Alkhashram were second and third in class, competing on identical Yamaha R1 bikes.

Earlier in the meeting, Achraf Hamoud on a Suzuki GSX R600 and Saud Al Toura on a BMW S1000RR paced the 600cc and 1,000cc, respectively, during practice, and then Al Toura clinched overall pole while Bou Shehri was the leading starter in his category.

In Time Attack, Yazeed Sameer Al Saheel won the ULA class in his Porsche GT3RS with a fastest mark of 1:09.554 on the combined timesheet. Ahmed Bainaid in a Porsche GT2RS was the runner-up 1.439s behind, while Abdulaziz Yousef Alyaeesh in a Tesla Model S took third 5.042s behind.

In the ULB class, Hisham Bediea Al Bediea won in his Lotus Exige with a time of 1:17.609. Abdulaziz Alramih in a Toyota 86 was second 4.308s back.

Sultan Tamer Kayello triumphed amongst the MA class competitors after posting a time of 1:16.513 in his Mitsubishi Evo X RS. Abdulaziz Saud Alsaud in a Toyota Yaris GR finished second 0.312s behind, while Fady Mohammed Asha in a Cadillac ATS-V was third 2.645s adrift.

The SA class saw Mohamed Sami Aldoseri clinch first place in his Audi RS3 with a fastest time of 1:16.730. Rakan Talal Al Saheel in a Porsche 718 Spyder followed 0.796s off the mark, while Mohammed Abdullah Alghamdi driving a Renault Megane was third 8.537s off the winner’s mark.

Sultan Turki Alsaud triumphed in the MB class in his Toyota GR86. He had a time of 1:22.480 – 0.801s from Fares Mazyad Almutairi in a Subaru BRZ. Ali Khalifa Almansoori took third 1.453s back in a Mazda MX5.

Finally, Maan Mahmoud Al Jabrah won the SB class behind the wheel of his Toyota GR86, while clocking a best time of 1:24.225 on the combined timesheet. Fares Mohammad Almedani was second 5.131s behind in his Fiat Abarth 695 2013, while Faisal Khalid Al Rashid, also in a Toyota GR85, was third 10.245s adrift.