Baslar, Mattar win SWS Bahrian Championship

Manama

Ali Baslar and Mohammed Mattar claimed a win apiece in a record-breaking first round of the 2015/2016 SWS Bahrain Championship, held at a bustling Bahrain International Karting Circuit (BIKC) in Sakhir.

Baslar had a pole-to-flag victory in the season’s opening race and then Mattar took a share of the honours by taking a hard-earned victory in Race Two.
Both drivers made their title ambitions known with the results, setting the stage for a hugely exciting and hotly contested campaign in BIKC’s highly popular arrive-and-drive series.

The meeting attracted a record grid of 21 karters for each of the two races – the most in the history of the SWS Bahrain Championship, according to BIKC officials and included competitors from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, France, the UK and Canada with scores of spectators cheering on the drivers.
Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) Chief Executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa was on hand to watch all the action, while BIC Circuit Operations Director Fayez Ramzy Fayez presented the winners their prizes in a podium ceremony.

The SWS Bahrain Championship is organised by BIKC in cooperation with the Bahrain Motor Federation, BIC and the Bahrain Karting Club.
Baslar and Mattar were at the top of the timesheets from the very beginning of the evening’s events. Mattar immediately displayed his quickness by setting the pace in Free Practice with a best lap time of 1 minute 15.042 seconds and Baslar (1:13.811) stepped it up in qualifying and improved the day’s fastest mark to take pole for race one.

Baslar (13:43.275) did well to defend his position through the season’s first 11-lap sprint and finished ahead of Mattar (+0.972) who finished second.
Abdulla Al Thawadi (+4.512) captured the third podium spot, followed by Abdulla Buhindi (+9.436) in fourth, Rashid Al Muammari (+9.656) fifth and Khalid Alsaie (+10.016) sixth. Khalifa Yaqoobi (+10.188) finished seventh while Ahmed Ebrahim (+11.026) rounded out the top eight. The fastest lap in race one was by Baslar (1:13.927).

In the second race, Mattar (13:45.127) battled hard to claim the win as he warded off a charging Baslar (+0.218) who had to settle for the runner-up spot.
Buhindi (+0.508) improved on his race one classification and joined the top two on the podium.
Finishing in fourth was Alsaie (+0.589), Yaqoobi (+3.813) fifth, Muammari (4.038) sixth, Khalid Alwazzan (+9.096) seventh and Al Thawadi (+9.740) eighth and the best lap was registered by Alwazzan (1:13.966).
Baslar and Mattar will be hoping to build on their fine start with another strong showing in the season’s second round, scheduled to be hosted by BIKC next Monday.

All those aged 16 years old and above are welcome to participate, both men and women of any nationality and skill level.
The SWS Bahrain Championship gives competitors a chance to race in a fun yet professionally run challenge.
Each round per driver is BD60 to participate and all racers will be driving identical RT9 Sodi karts, provided by BIKC, along with race suits and helmets.