Drivers gear up for thrilling 2,000cc races at BIC

The stage is set for an exciting second round in the 2012/2013 BIC 2,000cc Challenge this weekend at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir. The 2,000cc Challenge will be taking place as part of the Kick-Off National Racing event, which will also be featuring the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. The event is being organised by BIC in cooperation with the Bahrain Motor Federation, the Circuit Racing Club and the Porsche GT3 Cup committee headed by Austrian racing legend Walter Lechner. The 2,000cc Challenge will feature some of the most competitive gentleman drivers from Bahrain and across the Gulf. This weekend’s meeting follows a thrilling season-opener held in September when defending champion Stephen Kellogg (Honda CIVIC) and last year’s runner-up Tim Birkin shared the honours with a win apiece. Both are eager to resume their battle this week, when racing will be held along BIC’s 2.55-kilometre Inner Track. “I’m ready to go,” Kellogg said. “Everything’s fine with the car and we’re just making the final adjustments. I should enjoy an advantage this weekend since we’ll be competing in the shorter club circuit, so I’m very hopeful.” Birkin commented: “Everything has been going according to plan. I had a few battle scars on my car after the first round, so I’ve been doing body work over the last few weeks more than anything else. It’s going to be very competitive, but I expect to do my best as always and I’m looking to have a lot of fun over the coming weekend.” The field of competitors also includes former champion Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (Honda CIVIC), who is also determined to take the top podium step; while others hoping to surprise the heavily favoured trip include veterans Raed Himmo (Honda CRX), Abdulrahman Ghuloom (Honda CIVIC), Hussain Karimi (Honda CRX), Ahmed Kuzbar (Ford Focus 2.0), Salah Salahuddin (Honda CIVIC) and Alex Longden (BMW 3 Series). Commented Himmo: “I am ready for this round and I hope to be on the podium this time. In round one, my car was not ready and I wasn’t able to finish race one and then in race two I was fourth. “I want to do better this time. It will be a very strong event with plenty of fighting out on the track.” Heading into the second round of action, Kellogg and Birkin are tied for first on the championship standings with 45 points apiece. Shaikh Hamad is third with 34 points, while Ghuloom is fourth with 28. Longden is fifth with 26 points, while Himmo and Karimi are tied sixth with 15 apiece. This season’s 2,000cc Challenge calendar features eight rounds of action, to be held until April of next year. Round three is scheduled to take place on December 7 and 8, while round four will mark the championship’s first meeting of the new calendar year on January 18 and 19. Round five will be held on February 1 and 2, to be followed by round six on March 1 and 2. The seventh and penultimate round of this campaign is then slated for March 29 and 30, providing the setting for an exciting grand finale on April 26 and 27. All are invited to attend this weekend’s Kick-Off National Racing event. Enjoy the action and the fun, family-friendly atmosphere at BIC on both days. Apart from all there is on the track, there will be plenty of entertainment off the tarmac for the enjoyment of the whole family. Food and beverage stalls will also be available throughout the day. Tickets for the event cost BD2 apiece for adults and BD1 for children. For more information, call the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000 or visit the circuit’s official website, www.bahraingp.com.