Saleh Fareed
DUBAI — Dubai Autodrome hosted the first UAE national race day of the new calendar year this past weekend, featuring championship races for Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, UAE Sportbike Championship, Radical ME Cup, NGK Racing Series and Formula Gulf 1000.
Saudi driver Al-Qassim Hamidaddin began the year in the same fashion he finished last year by backing up his two victories in November 2015 with 2 victories in Class 2 of the NGK Race Series.
Al-Qassim powered his Honda FD2 race car in race 1 from the last row on the starting grid to finish first, in front of Annivas Alexandros from Greece and Boyel Colin from Great Brittan.
Al-Qassim said: “We faced some problems during qualifying and had to start the first race from the last row. Fortunately, I was able to take advantage of the battles in front of me and slip by the competition to finish first.”
In the second race, Al-Qassim started from first position and was being pressured by Annivas Alexandros throughout the race, but managed to hold on to the lead to finish first again.
After securing four victories in the four races he had entered this season, Al-Qassim was very excited about the results and is looking forward to the next rounds. “I praise God for these great results and thank my sponsors 3M, UTurn, and Saudi Auto for their continued support. I wouldn’t have been able to continue racing without their backing. I look forward to the next round next month and hope to continue collecting points for the championship.”
Al-Qassim praised the Dubai Autodrome and the NGK Racing Series as one of the best championships he has been involved with and added: “I would like to thank and congratulate the staff at Dubai Autodrome for organizing the NGK Racing Series as it is one of the most enjoyable championships to race in. The support race car drivers receive from the organizers brings out the best in us and enables us to focus on racing.”
The NGK Racing Series will have four more rounds for the 2015-2016 season, and will continue in Feb. 19-20 2016, for round four at Dubai Autodrome.
