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Tribune News Network
Doha
The 2020 Qatar National Sprint Championship, organised by Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), concluded with the fifth and final round held at Losail
on Saturday.
The championship which began in January was extended over the year following the forced ‘coronavirus pandemic’ break. Yet, the enthusiasm among participants remained high with both the local and expat drivers excelling till the very end.
In the final round, 44 participants in six different categories of Open and Production Cars made attempts before their best results were taken into account in crowning the season’s champions.
Abdulaziz Al Jabri emerged best in the O1 category, Mohammed Al Khayarin in O2, and Abdullah Al Khelaifi in O3.
Henry Kahy topped the overall P1 category, followed by Al-Jaber (P2), and Francesco Fornaciari (P3).
In the Open 1 class, Abdulaziz Al Jabri won the title for a second year in a row collecting 104 points – a difference of 11 points over his closest competitor Abdullah Al-Khelaifi.
Khelaifi recorded the fastest lap of 52.358secs during his second attempt, especially since Al Jabri maintained his pace and finished second in 54.472secs in his third attempt, while Iyad Al Aker came third with a time of 54.655secs in his first attempt.
In the O2 category, competition was exciting until the final round. Mohammed Al Khayarin snatched the title managing to win the fifth round with a time of 52.982secs, 0.308secs ahead of his closest rival Mohamed Al Basti.
In the O3 category, Abdullah Al Khelaifi compensated for his failure in the O1 category to claim the overall title finishing on top in the final round with a time of 52.333secs, a difference of 0.515secs from Abdullah Al Abbasi, second-placed. Yousef Al Jabri finished third in 54.001secs.
In the P1 category, Lebanon’s Henry Kahy emerged as the overall winner with a tally of 104 points. His compatriot Mansour Shibli was second with 70 points, and Qatari Saad Fahd, who won the fifth round, finished overall third (69pts).
Amro Al Hamad, Executive Director, QMMF expressed his happiness with the great participation of 44 competitors despite the exceptional coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) circumstances.
“We did not expect this great participation, especially since some of the contestants were unable to participate from outside Qatar due to the current coronavirus situation, especially since some countries canceled their sports activities, but we worked during the period. We thank the FIA for their efforts throughout the past period and all contestants for adhering to the precautionary measures and Ministry of Public Health protocols,” said Al Hamad.
“The competition was very strong until the end, especially in some categories where the results were decided by a point’s difference. It also reflects the strong competition throughout an entire season. In the final round we amended the speed and changed the course which made the competition tougher,” he added.
Al Hamad also revealed that a new version of the championship will be launched in the new year in January, and therefore the competition will return quickly being held in the same categories.
The QMMF will be meeting the contestants soon to find out if some rules could be changed in order to attract more competitors.Results & Overall StandingsFifth Round
OPEN CLASS 1: 1. Abdullah Al Khelaifi (Westfield Sport) 52.358; 2. Abdul Aziz Al Jabri (Westfield Sport) 54.472; 3. Ayad Al Okar (Subaru BRZ) 54.655
OPEN CLASS 2: 1. Mohammed Al Khayarin (Mitsubishi Evo 10) 52.892;
2. Mohammed Al Basti (Subaru STI WRX) 53.290; 3. Ibrahim Al Mannai (Mitsubishi Evo 10) 54.035
OPEN CLASS 3: 1. Abdullah Al Khelaifi (Supra) 52.333; 2. Abdulla Al Abbassi (Lotus Exige) 52.848; 3. Yousef Al Jabrer (Supra) 54.001
PRODUCTION CARS
CLASS 1: 1. Saad Fahad (Mazda) 55.419; 2. Henry Kahy (Renault Clio) 55.632; 3. Nadim Ziade (Renault Clio) 55.640
CLASS 2: 1. Dean Ball (Porsche Boxster 718) 54.083; 2. Ali Emadadhi (Audi) 55.093; 3. Jad Alawar (Ford Focus) 55.278
CLASS 3: 1. Francesco Fornaciari (Lotus Exige) 51.434; 2. Ayad Al Okar (Supra) 54.047; 3. Mahmud Al Mahmoud (Porsche GT3) 54.905
Final Championship points
OPEN CLASS 1: 1. Abdulaziz Al Jabri 104 points; 2. Abdulla Al Khelaifi 93; 3. Fakhreddine Bejaoui 53
OPEN CLASS 2: 1. Mohammed Al Khayarin 105 points; 2. Mohammed Al Basti 104; 3. Ibrahim Al Mannai 69
OPEN CLASS 3: 1. Abdullah Al Khelaifi 98 points; 2. Abdulla Al Abbassi 94; 3. Mohammed Al Khayarin 82
PRODUCTION CARS
CLASS 1: 1. Henry Kahy 104 points; 2. Mansour Chebi 70; 3. Saad Fahad 69
CLASS 2: 1. Mohammed Al Jaber (83) points; 2. Dennis Nikitopoulos (72); 3. Dean Ball (68)
CLASS 3: 1. Francesco Fornaciari (110) points: 2. Mahmoud Al Mahmoud (85); 3. Ayad Al Okar (72).
Doha
The 2020 Qatar National Sprint Championship, organised by Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), concluded with the fifth and final round held at Losail
on Saturday.
The championship which began in January was extended over the year following the forced ‘coronavirus pandemic’ break. Yet, the enthusiasm among participants remained high with both the local and expat drivers excelling till the very end.
In the final round, 44 participants in six different categories of Open and Production Cars made attempts before their best results were taken into account in crowning the season’s champions.
Abdulaziz Al Jabri emerged best in the O1 category, Mohammed Al Khayarin in O2, and Abdullah Al Khelaifi in O3.
Henry Kahy topped the overall P1 category, followed by Al-Jaber (P2), and Francesco Fornaciari (P3).
In the Open 1 class, Abdulaziz Al Jabri won the title for a second year in a row collecting 104 points – a difference of 11 points over his closest competitor Abdullah Al-Khelaifi.
Khelaifi recorded the fastest lap of 52.358secs during his second attempt, especially since Al Jabri maintained his pace and finished second in 54.472secs in his third attempt, while Iyad Al Aker came third with a time of 54.655secs in his first attempt.
In the O2 category, competition was exciting until the final round. Mohammed Al Khayarin snatched the title managing to win the fifth round with a time of 52.982secs, 0.308secs ahead of his closest rival Mohamed Al Basti.
In the O3 category, Abdullah Al Khelaifi compensated for his failure in the O1 category to claim the overall title finishing on top in the final round with a time of 52.333secs, a difference of 0.515secs from Abdullah Al Abbasi, second-placed. Yousef Al Jabri finished third in 54.001secs.
In the P1 category, Lebanon’s Henry Kahy emerged as the overall winner with a tally of 104 points. His compatriot Mansour Shibli was second with 70 points, and Qatari Saad Fahd, who won the fifth round, finished overall third (69pts).
Amro Al Hamad, Executive Director, QMMF expressed his happiness with the great participation of 44 competitors despite the exceptional coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) circumstances.
“We did not expect this great participation, especially since some of the contestants were unable to participate from outside Qatar due to the current coronavirus situation, especially since some countries canceled their sports activities, but we worked during the period. We thank the FIA for their efforts throughout the past period and all contestants for adhering to the precautionary measures and Ministry of Public Health protocols,” said Al Hamad.
“The competition was very strong until the end, especially in some categories where the results were decided by a point’s difference. It also reflects the strong competition throughout an entire season. In the final round we amended the speed and changed the course which made the competition tougher,” he added.
Al Hamad also revealed that a new version of the championship will be launched in the new year in January, and therefore the competition will return quickly being held in the same categories.
The QMMF will be meeting the contestants soon to find out if some rules could be changed in order to attract more competitors.Results & Overall StandingsFifth Round
OPEN CLASS 1: 1. Abdullah Al Khelaifi (Westfield Sport) 52.358; 2. Abdul Aziz Al Jabri (Westfield Sport) 54.472; 3. Ayad Al Okar (Subaru BRZ) 54.655
OPEN CLASS 2: 1. Mohammed Al Khayarin (Mitsubishi Evo 10) 52.892;
2. Mohammed Al Basti (Subaru STI WRX) 53.290; 3. Ibrahim Al Mannai (Mitsubishi Evo 10) 54.035
OPEN CLASS 3: 1. Abdullah Al Khelaifi (Supra) 52.333; 2. Abdulla Al Abbassi (Lotus Exige) 52.848; 3. Yousef Al Jabrer (Supra) 54.001
PRODUCTION CARS
CLASS 1: 1. Saad Fahad (Mazda) 55.419; 2. Henry Kahy (Renault Clio) 55.632; 3. Nadim Ziade (Renault Clio) 55.640
CLASS 2: 1. Dean Ball (Porsche Boxster 718) 54.083; 2. Ali Emadadhi (Audi) 55.093; 3. Jad Alawar (Ford Focus) 55.278
CLASS 3: 1. Francesco Fornaciari (Lotus Exige) 51.434; 2. Ayad Al Okar (Supra) 54.047; 3. Mahmud Al Mahmoud (Porsche GT3) 54.905
Final Championship points
OPEN CLASS 1: 1. Abdulaziz Al Jabri 104 points; 2. Abdulla Al Khelaifi 93; 3. Fakhreddine Bejaoui 53
OPEN CLASS 2: 1. Mohammed Al Khayarin 105 points; 2. Mohammed Al Basti 104; 3. Ibrahim Al Mannai 69
OPEN CLASS 3: 1. Abdullah Al Khelaifi 98 points; 2. Abdulla Al Abbassi 94; 3. Mohammed Al Khayarin 82
PRODUCTION CARS
CLASS 1: 1. Henry Kahy 104 points; 2. Mansour Chebi 70; 3. Saad Fahad 69
CLASS 2: 1. Mohammed Al Jaber (83) points; 2. Dennis Nikitopoulos (72); 3. Dean Ball (68)
CLASS 3: 1. Francesco Fornaciari (110) points: 2. Mahmoud Al Mahmoud (85); 3. Ayad Al Okar (72).
