Dubai: Emirati drivers were in fine form during the opening round of the 2015 Sodi World Series (SWS) Ramadan Challenge at Dubai Kartdrome, taking the top three spots on the podium.
Ali Al Mansouri delivered one of his strongest performances of the season to claim victory in the Grand Final after a race-long duel with Saeed Al Muhairi. The latter, using some time off from military service to contest round one, fell short by a mere 0.114 sec as the pair crossed the line side-by-side.
Atef Al Barwani had to work hard to claim third place and make it three Emirati drivers on the podium, as he held off the relentless challenges of fourth-placed Mohammad Imran, Hussain Umid Ali in fifth and Ali Al Najjar in sixth — the quartet crossing the line nose-to-tail within a couple of seconds of each other.
Dubai Falcons Racing Team manager Hadi Al Beloushi donned his race suit and helmet to finish seventh, ahead of Piotr Karykowski in eighth, Lee Broadbank in ninth and with Nadia Khan rounding out the top ten.
Meanwhile, former Rotax Max DD2 campaigner Arnoud Bouf won the SWS Masters, with defending champion Carsten Winter in second and Gary Jones third.
The remaining three rounds take place on June 29, July 6 and 13.
