Al Qasimi takes second, Soomar third in Ras Al Khaimah
Omani rally driver Hamid al Qasimi clinched the second position in Ras Al Khaimah Rally, the third round of Emirate’s Rally Championship this week. Al Qasimi finished the stages in 53 minutes, 8.681 seconds in Group N.
Another Omani driver Khalid Soomar took the podium in the third place in the same group after finishing the rally in 56 minutes 21.791 seconds.
The race was won by Sheikh Abdullah al Qasimi from the UAE.
The rally was organised by Emirates Motorsport Club as part of UAE Rally championship 2017. The rally was organised under rainy weather and stages where full of water and mud in Ras Al Khaimah.
The rally, however, successfully ended after 11 drivers reached the finish point and the price distribution was organised near the beach road in Ras Al Khaimah, the place where the flag off was given to all drivers.
Hamid al Qasimi (Loeb) and his co- driver Mohamed al Mazroui has ended the rally in high performance in Mitsubishi EVO 8, while Khalid Soomar and co-diver Issa al Wardi found difficulties in the vision from Mitsubishi EVO 7 amid fog.
The rally consisted of 3 stages supposed to be repeated 3 times each, but the organisers decided to cancel stage No 3 as it was flashed by water after heavy rain in Ras Al Khaimah on the eve of the rally.
After finishing the rally in second place, Hamid al Qasimi appreciated all the support he has got from the technical team, the organising committee and also Zubair establishment, who provided him with spare parts.
Al Qasimi said: “It is my pleasure to be on the podium and receive the second place trophy and to represent my country in the rally in the UAE. I am very happy to share this celebration with my colleagues and friends”.
Khalid Soomar thanked sponsors Target company and Al Sheida company in the rally. He called for more support to the Omani drivers from local companies due to the big expenses a driver has to meet to take part in the rally championships.