Abu Dhabi: Daman Speed Academy (DSA) driver Saeed Al Ali was on the podium in second place in the shifter class after Round 4 of the IAME X30 Challenge UAE at the 1.2-km Al Forsan International circuit, while teammates Hamda Al Qubaisi (senior class) and Ali Al Shamsi (junior class) ended the day inside the top ten.
Battling for victory against 11 other drivers in the final race of the day, Al Ali put pressure on the class leader throughout the 15-lap race but eventually had to be content with a second-place finish. Earlier, Al Ali had consistently fought for the top spot right from qualifying to the heat.
“The competitive atmosphere was intense in all categories and not just in the shifter class. But the battle with Alessandro that secured second place for me today was really breathtaking,” said Al Ali.
“We have learnt new lessons from this Al Forsan round. I’m now looking forward to the Yas Marina Circuit round. The speed will be very high at Yas but I will spare no efforts to win the race on our home soil,” he added.
In the junior class, which comprised of a total of 13 drivers, Ali Al Shamsi finished his final race in fourth overall. He was sixth in both the qualifying and heat sessions.
In the senior class pre-final, the end result might have been different for Al Qubaisi had the transponder of her kart not malfunctioned, which meant she was unable to continue racing and had to start the final from the back of the grid.
Despite this setback, she displayed great determination to brilliantly move up to ninth after starting from the back of the grid. Round 5 will be held on March 23 at the Yas Marina circuit.
