Dubai: Shaikh Hasher Al Maktoum led NFM Professionals to victory in one of the most closely fought Nivea for Men Endurance Challenge 24-hour races ever held at Dubai's Kartdrome.
Starting at 2.15pm on Friday, for 24 hours, they slugged it out with Team Grohe for supremacy.
On Saturday, at 2.15pm, the NFM Professionals took the chequered flag, overcoming trying conditions and a determined challenge from their rivals, to notch up their second win of the 2009 series with one round left.
From the outset, it was clear that NFM Professionals, whose driver line-up included top drivers Shaikh Hasher, Christophe Hissette and Saeed Al Mehairi were the team to beat, but would be facing stiff competition from Dubai based Team Grohe, with UAE Champion Scott Latham and top racers including Richie McLeod, Maurits Knopjes and Ramez Azzam.
Throughout the 24 hours Team Grohe and NFM Professionals were within 30 seconds of one another, they swapped the lead every hour in what turned out to be a battle of mind games and tactics.
NFM Professionals edged ahead in the final hour, keeping Team Grohe at bay in an intriguing game of cat and mouse. When the flag dropped NFM Professionals were once again triumphant as they crossed the line just over 30 seconds ahead of Team Grohe.
Shaikh Hasher said of the victory: "It was a good race. We battled Team Grohe throughout the event and they gave us a good challenge, as did the international teams from France, Italy and Germany. It was a strong team effort from our side and it is great for our team to win on home soil."
Team Grohe's Ramez Azzam was disappointed with second place as a win was on the team's pre-race wish list, "It was a fantastic battle and until the very end it was not certain who was going to win. We look forward to the final round in December where we believe we have a good chance at victory."
Making their first visit to Dubai were the formidable French squad Esso 1 who fought gamely throughout the 24 hours. They finished in a well deserved third place.
Former winners Batelco, from Bahrain, were rewarded with fourth place, while Ocean Rubber took fifth place and picked up the fastest lap of the race award.
Special Award went to the Kayak Sunglasses team from Italy, featuring only women drivers. They finished 13th.
The final round of the 2009 Nivea for Men Challenge takes place at the Kartdrome on December 11-12.
