Riders get ready with their bikes at the first round of Qatar Mile, an event for ‘speed merchants’ in the country and the region. The second leg will be held tomorrow and the day after.
DOHA: The country’s top ‘speed merchants’ will battle for the honour of the fastest driver or rider at this week’s Qatar Mile to be held at Al Khor Airstrip, a top official of Qatar Racing Club (QRC) said
“We will see who can join the 300kmh club,” Fahad Behzad, the CEO of QRC, told The Peninsula yesterday.
“This event is open to fans who loved speed. We urge fans to come with their cars, bikes or SUVs and be part of the two-day event,” Behzad said.
This week’s event will be the second leg to be hosted by QRC.
The first edition of ‘Qatar Mile’ was held at Al Khor Airstrip on November 30 and December 1.
The event opens at 9:00am and ends at 5:00pm tomorrow and the day after.
According to QRC chief, a rider or driver could have as many turns as possible to increase his or her chances of winning the top prize.
“The bottom-line is to break the 300-kmh barrier. I think this can be done,” Behzad added.
Behzad said the two-day event will be run on a simple formula: whoever drives or rides the fastest goes home with the top cash prize in various categories.
Car events (8, 10 and 12 cylinders and SUVs) will be split into three categories: unlimited, modified and stock, Behzad informed.
The 4x4 SUV category event will also be run in similar classes, he added.
“In the bike class, the categories are Bike V twin and Bike Inline,” Behzad explained.
The top QRC official said the winner in the car category will walk away with the top prize of QR 15,000 while the best rider at ‘Qatar Mile’ will go home with a cash prize of QR 10,000.
“Qatar Mile is an event designed to see who has got the fastest car in the Arab region,” event coordinator Nick Cheliotis said.
“I am sure the spectators will enjoy seeing the cars and bikes on the track,” Cheliotis added.
“We have also made arrangement for family fan. It will be a great day out for the family,” he said.
“The reason we have taken the event to the Al Khor Airstrip is because we have a larger area to play with.
“At the Qatar Racing Club track, we organise (drag) races that are run for 400 metres. At the Al Khor Airstrip, our speed fans will race over a distance of 800 metres,” Cheliotis explained.
“Besides the bigger space available to us, we opted for the Al Khor Airstrip because of the asphalt surface. For the event like the ‘Qatar Mile’, this surface will encourage speeding,” Cheliotis explained.
“We are expecting a large crowd since this event is for everyone who loves speed. We have arranged for more than 1000 VIP seats.
“Catering is taken care of for the participants as well as the fans who turn up at the venue,” Cheliotis said.
Behzad said entry fee for those taking part is fixed at QR 200.
He said owners of Harley Davidsons, Ducati or Suzuki bikes are expected to register for the event. Entry for the public is free, Behzad said.
Auto Gyro plane show is also part of the two-day event.
QRC hosted its inaugural edition of the Qatar Mile in February 2009 in which over 100 overseas and local racers took part.
Behzad said the event is open to fans from across the region though he expected mostly Qatari entries in action in the first round.
“Our message to motor sport fans is whoever is interested in racing without inhibitions, should come and join us at the Al Khor Airstrip.
“Our venue is the place for you to test your skills and race against others,” Behzad added.
“We are doing this because we want speed riding done in a secure environment. We don’t want youngsters speeding on roads and streets in the city,” he added.
“You are a professional or an amateur does not matter. All you have to do is bring your car or bike and we will see if you can take your vehicle on to our circuit,” Behzad said.
The QRC official said every car entry has to undergo a technical inspection before it is allowed to take part in the event.
“We have made arrangements to make the outing at QRC a fun time for fans of all ages,” Behzad said.
Drifting and Freestyle Drifting are some of the other events organised by QRC.
THE PENINSULA
