The regional success that was this year’s Speed Weekend season came to an official end during the Speed Weekend End of Season Party held at The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East. Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, Acting CEO of Bahrain International Circuit and Head of the Speed Weekend Organizing committee, Sherif Al Mahdy, Chevrolet Supercars ME Championship Organizer and Manager of Speed Weekend, Walter Lechner, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East Championship Organizer and Andre Oosthuysen, Marketing Director of Porsche Middle East, all spoke to the attending guests on the success that was this season of Speed Weekend.
Sherif Al Mahdy discussed the ability of the event to drive the growth of the development of motorsport in the Middle East by continuing to visit racing circuits throughout the GCC. The partnership between Bahrain International Circuit, Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit and Saudi Arabia’s Reem International Circuit has provided a unique platform for Arab drivers to continue to improve their abilities and display them via participating in international events.
Sherif Al Mahdy paid tribute to the memory of Christophe Hissette with a moving speech before displaying a video honoring the racing driver’s long career in Middle East motorsport. Hissette died during a fatal accident earlier in the month when competing in the UAE National Racing Championship.
He commented, “Last weekend the regional racing community suffered a great loss when Christophe Hissette tragically died while competing in the final round of the UAE National Racing Championship. A familiar and immensely popular figure, Christophe touched the lives of many and has been an influential person in the development of regional racing. He was a very dear friend and known to many in the Bahrain racing community and will be sorely missed. Recognized as one of the best kart drivers in the Middle East, if not the world, he was an accomplished racing competitor and has a long list of motorsport accomplishments attributed to his name. While Christophe may be gone, he will never be forgotten.”
Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, Acting CEO of Bahrain International Circuit, discussed the importance of Speed Weekend’s contribution to the development of regional motorsport in the international setting. The event supported both the 2010 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix and 2009 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as well as two rounds of the internationally renowned Australia Supercars V8 Championship series.
Shaikh Salman stated, “The provision of a platform which is able to increase the growth of local drivers from grass roots all the way to professional racing is an important step forward. The fact that one of the participating championships in Speed Weekend, the Chevrolet Supercars, took part in not one but two Formula One support race line ups as well as two Australian V8 Supercars rounds is yet another illustration of just how far these regional championships have grown in a few short years. Not only will this serve to increase the standards in the provision of regional motorsport, but it will also provide a unique path of improvement for local and regional drivers to reach even higher levels and championships.”
The winners were awarded their trophies by Zayed R. Alzayani, Chairman of Bahrain International Circuit.
The Chevrolet Supercars Middle East Championship, the result of a collaboration between Bahrain International Circuit and Chevrolet Motorsport Middle East, saw its third season come to a close earlier this year. Bahraini driver Fahad Al Musalam cemented his reputation as one of the region’s most competitive drivers by repeating his title winner performance and clinching this season’s crown. Australia’s Tarek Elgammal completed the season with enough points to claim the second place trophy, while Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz Al Yaeesh finished in third. The winners were awarded their trophies by Zayed R. Alzayani, Chairman of Bahrain International Circuit.
The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East Championship’s inaugural season was won by Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia after several dominating performances throughout the year. Bahrain’s own Shaikh Salman Bin Rashid Al Khalifa blistered to the overall runner up spot, while Bandar Alesaye claimed the third position. The winners were presented their trophies by Shaikh Abdulla Bin Isa Al Khalifa, President of Bahrain Motor Federation
