MUSCAT: Haitham al Hadidi claimed the top position in the Oman National Drift Championship Round 1 organised by the Oman Automobile Association (OAA) at its drift arena late on Friday.

Haitham beat Ahmed al Amri in the final to clinch the trophy. Tariq al Shaibani got the better of Riyadh al Mabsali to finish third in the play-off. 

“This is good start to the season for me. Though I had some technical issues, it was overall good round for me,” Haitham said after winning the twin-drift challenge, a first-ever attempt by the OAA for the local drivers.

Second-placed Ahmed al Amri said he had a good outing at the OAA’s Drift Arena on Friday night.

“I didn’t expect to perform this better in the opening round of the drift season. I performed very well in the final too. Overall, it was a satisfying performance,” Al Amri said.

Falahil Omar al Falahil, board member of the Oman Automobile Association, was the chief guest of the night and gave away trophies to the top three placed drivers.

“The drivers had put in a challenging competition today. Very happy to see the twin-drift challenge for local drivers from the Oman Automobile Association. This will help them to prepare well for the international competitions,” Al Falahil said.

“I congratulate the winners of the first round. Those missing on top are sure to bounce back in the coming rounds,” the OAA board member added.

OAA Managing Director Suleiman al Rawahi coordinated the smooth conduct of the opening round of the Oman drift season.

“We have ensured a safe and successful completion by taking various sufficient measures. Happy to note it has ended well. Thanks to our marshals and volunteers,” Al Rawahi said.

He said the OAA had decided to start the twin-drift for local championship so that the drivers get enough exposure before the International Drift Challenges to be hosted later in the year.

“We have so many talented drivers. The good standard of Omani drivers prompted us to start the twin-drift challenge,” the OAA managing director said.

There were a total of 20 drivers registered for the first round, but only 16 could start after clearing the technical issues. Out of that 12 drivers qualified to the first knockout round.

Eight drivers were then selected for a last-8 knockout and four made it to the last-four round.

Ahmed al Amri, Haitham al Hadidi, Tariq al Shaihani and Riyad al Mabsali were the final four drivers of the first round of Oman National Drift event.

Red Bull Car Park Drift regional champion Rafaat al Yahyaei was eliminated in the first knockout round. Al Yahyaei could not make it past eventual fourth-place finisher Riyadh al Mabsali.