The second round of the Toyota Saudi Star Autocross will be at Al-Iskan garden in Al-Khobar on Wednesday and Thursday. The event is mainly sponsored by Abdul Latif Jameel Company Ltd. (Toyota). The co-sponsors are Mobile 1 and Okaz newspaper. The first round of the championship was held in Jeddah. Autocross is a branch of motorsport that involves driving a motor car on a loose surface circuit against the clock. The fastest time in each class will win an award and the fastest time of the day will take a special award. The competition takes place on a temporary circuit. A competitor will get a three-lap practice session and three or four timed runs of three or four laps. Circuits are not oval. The autocross season usually starts in May and continues until October. The locations vary from the eastern to western area. There is also a local championship. Autocross is a relatively cheap, friendly branch of motorsport. It is an excellent means to learn to control a car. About 20 amateur drivers will take part in the event. The main aim behind organizing such an event is to assess and develop driving talents and skills. The event is hoped to help discover new generation of future rally drivers. The drivers will be divided into seven groups and each group members will compete among themselves. The drivers, with their cars, will categorize into 7 classes depending on the capacity and the power of engine, car size and year of manufacture. The classes will be: 1. Super stock (SS) for ultra high performance sport cars, 2. A Stock (AS) for high performance sport cars 3. PA - sport cars and GT's, 4. C Stock (CS) for small size compact cars, 5. D Stock (DS) for intermediate size sedans 6. F Stock (FS) for sedans and coupes, 7. (BS) for medium size coupes. Each driver will be allowed to drive 2 trials. The best time (the lowest time inclusive pylon penalties, if any) particular run were taken for ranking with each classes. Stressing the importance of organizing autocross championship in Saudi Arabia, the event organizer Abdullah Bakhashab mentioned that autocross is popular in Arab world and that several Arab countries organize the championship all through the year. “Our aim is to help Saudi youth to test their driving talents and skills in the right places and specialized areas away from endangering people and their own lives by racing cars in the city streets and high ways,” he said. __
