Sultan Al Zaa'bi flew across the finish line in a blink to win the opening round of the UAE National Drag Championship organized under the auspices of the Maktoum Challenge in Fujairah last Friday (August 20).
The Maktoum Challenge, held under the Patronage of HH Sheikh Maktoum Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, made its debut in 2008 and is held during the Holy Month of Ramadan where various indoor and outdoor sporting activities ranging from football, cricket, martial arts, badminton and motor sports, provide a competitive platform for sportspersons and source of entertainment for thousands of fans after Iftar.
While the non-motor sport competitions are held inside the Fujairah Tennis Stadium, thousands witnessed the drag race held within a designated enclosure on a specially laid out track some 200 meters behind the stadium located just off the Dubai-Fujairah highway.
Apart from HH Sheikh Maktoum Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, the Crown Prince of Fujairah HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of UAQ HH Sheikh Rashid Bin Saud Al Mualla and President of Fujairah Culture & Media Authority HH Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi were the other VVIPs who witnessed some fast and furious racing on the specially laid out drag strip.
The first round of the drag championship signals the return of the Emirates Motor Sports Federation after having maintained a low profile for nearly two years due to the global financial meltdown and the resultant drying up of funds from traditional sponsors. The remaining rounds will be held from October with the final round scheduled for April 2011.
While the UAE National Sand Drag Championship was originally scheduled to be launched in late October, the invitation to be part of the Maktoum Challenge provided the perfect platform to introduce "this exciting, adrenalin-filled sport to UAE motor sport fans," according to EMSF General Manager Ahmed Al Sharif.
"The Maktoum Challenge is a very popular multi-disciplinary sporting extravaganza that attracts thousands of people daily, and we felt that this festival would be the perfect platform to introduce a new championship to the people of the UAE.
"I am grateful to HH Sheikh Maktoum Bin Hamad Al Sharqi for providing us with this opportunity. The huge turnout last weekend is testimony to the popularity this sport enjoys in the UAE and the region," Al Sharif added.
Following are the full results (in seconds):
8-CYLINDER PROMOD
Sultan Al Zaa'bi – UAE (3.540 secs)Ali Mussabeh Al Kaa'bi – UAE (3.721 secs)Abdullah Al Khalidi – Saudi Arabia (3.752 secs)
PRO6
Khalid Rashid Al Baloushi – UAE (4.036 secs)Yusuf Sulaiman Al Khadr – Saudi Arabi (4.414 secs)Ali Al Kaa'bi – UAE (4.723 secs)
STANDARD
Yusuf Mohammed Al Ali – UAE (5.526 secs)Abdulrahman Al Baloushi – UAE (5.572 secs)Abdullah Mohammed Al Shamsi – UAE (5.814 secs)
ABOUT DRAG RACING
Drag racing is a competition in which vehicles compete to be the first to cross a set finish line, usually from a standing start, and in a straight line.
Most drag races begin with a standing (stationary) start and are just a 1/4 mile long (400 m). Races last between 3.9 and 17 seconds, with finishing speeds ranging from 80 to over 330 mph (530 km/h), depending upon the type of vehicle being used.
Before each drag race (also known as a pass), each driver is allowed to perform a burnout (which heats the tires and lays rubber down at the beginning of the track, improving traction). Each driver then lines up (or stages) at the starting line.
Several measurements are taken for each race: reaction time, elapsed time, and speed. Reaction time is the time from the green light illuminating to the vehicle leaving the starting line. Elapsed time is the time from the vehicle leaving the starting line to crossing the finish line. Speed is measured through a speed trap near the finish line, indicating the approximate maximum speed of the vehicle during the run. Top Fuel Dragsters are now running 330 mph (530 km/h) in a quarter-mile race.
During drag racing events, vehicles are classified by various criteria that take into account the extent of modifications to the car. These criteria include engine capacity, configuration of cylinders, frame type, vehicle construction materials, wheelbase, horsepower to weight ratio, number of cylinders, whether or not power adding equipment (turbocharger, supercharger, or nitrous oxide) are employed, vehicle type (such as car, truck, or motorcycle), or even make and model for limited entry fields. These divisions are in place to ensure that the cars are evenly matched during the race.
A motocross and classic and modified cars competition will also be held on the sidelines of the drag race, with events scheduled to begin after Iftar.
