HAIL — Faisal Al-Sharif, Bandar Ghaleb and Saeed Al-Mouri have qualified for the final of Red Bull Car Park Drift to be staged in Jeddah on 9 May. Al-Sharif clinched the top spot in the qualifier staged in Hail alongside the Hail Rally Thursday. Ghaleb finished second, followed by Al-Mouri. The jury for the Hail qualifier included: Abdullah Bakhashab, Abdo Faghali, Saudi Arabian Motor Federation Consultant Eyas Al-Saleh, and French motorsport expert Gerard Zyzic. The judging process was based on the art of drift as a major criterion, i.e. turning techniques with hand brakes and special skills; in addition to engine roaring, tire smoke, audience acclaim and car appearance. “The excitement and suspense hit unprecedented levels during the competition,” said Ibrahim Al-Bloushy, National Communication Manager for Red Bull in Saudi Arabia. “We are thrilled to have offered motorsport fans a competition that gave drifting a totally new meaning.” Al-Bloushy thanked the Saudi Arabian Motorsport Federation and the Hail Rally Committee for their support. Al-Sharif, the winner of the Hail qualifier, is a motorsport veteran who has won a number of championships and came second in the Saudi Grand Finale of Red Bull Park Drift 2011. Al-Mouri, on the other hand, is the Red Bull Car Park Drift Regional Final 2010 Champion. The remaining qualifiers will take place in Al-Hassa on April 4, Madinah on April 11, Dammam on April 25, Riyadh on May 2 and Jeddah on May 8. — SG
