Dubai: The Chevrolet-sponsored Khalid Al Beloushi team were crowned the UAE Drag Racing champions late on Thursday.
Al Beloushi won in Al Ain and secured the runners-up spot in Abu Dhabi to take the overall title in the UAE Drag Racing Championship 2007.
The team is currently doing well in the Gulf Championship after coming second in Bahrain and leading in Saudi Arabia.
"Personally, this has been such a learning experience for me," Al Beloushi told Gulf News just before accepting the winner's trophy from Terry Johnson of Chevrolet. Team Khalid Al Beloushi comprises Ali Humaid, Sultan Al Za'abi, Walid Mohammad and Ali Juma.
Doing the honours
Johnson handed over the golden tie trophy to Al Beloushi, who in turn, presented the overall winners' trophy to the Chevrolet official.
Drag racing is a form of auto racing in which cars attempt to complete a fairly short, straight and level course in the shortest amount of time.
Drag racing originated in the US and is still the most popular there. The most common distance is one quarter of a mile (402 metres), although one-eighth of a mile (201 metres) tracks are also popular, especially in the US.
This form of racing started unofficially in the region in the late 1950s in Kuwait, later on spreading to Bahrain which was the first State to develop the sport to global standards without losing the local flair.
"We have made a good start by backing drag racing in the region. I am sure we will have many more stars like Khalid coming through," stated David Venticich, marketing and planning director of General Motors.
Chevrolet chose this form or motorsport because of its popularity in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
