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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Haitham is the new King of Drift!

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Stupendous feat from the young racer,  who had received his driving licence only in October


Lakshmi Kothaneth -


Muscat: Haitham al Hadidi was someone fans from Oman were watching because he had received his driving licence just in October. But he had already shown the streaks of a winner in the Qualifier.


The Red Bull Car Park Drift Final 2016, the region’s biggest drifting competition held in association with the Oman Automobile Association (OAA) brought the best drifters from the Middle East and Africa to the Sultanate for the first time to battle it out for the coveted ‘King of Drift’ title.


Just 18, Haitham had told Observer in November that he hopes to participate on December 9th with the Red Bull Car Park Drift and then came that date on the calendar. The venue was packed with spectators who were all set for the event by 2.30 pm and the weather was perfect. Fans had their sight set on Haitham.


According to Habib al Zawawi from Oman Automobile Association, all the drivers from Oman were promising but Haitham had a bit of a rough start at the Red Bull Car Park Drift 2016 but by the second round he was back in his form. “I think they will all reach the finals,” said an excited Al Zawawi.


He was right by the time they announced the final round sure enough the drivers from Oman were all there in the list with the crowd cheering than ever before. There were international journalists who had flown in for the event. Clyde Augustin from Mauritius was excited experiencing all the action, “It is my first experience with this sport. We have our participant but he could not bring his own car. I am impressed with Haitham being the youngest drifter.”


Karen the hostess of the event said, “It is one of the exciting events one can ever think of perform or present. It is sports, full of emotions and adrenaline. If you like cars and speed this is the right place to be.”


Habib al Zawawi turned out to be right, Hathim al Hadidi, Ali al Balushi, Tariq al Shaihani and Rafat Haroun were the finalists.


There was joy in the air and soon the roaring of the cars began and along with it cheers from the crowd. The podium was set and the results were announced — Tariq al Shaihani, in the second place Ali al Balushi and finally everyone awaited to see whom His Highness Sayyid Taimour bin Asaad al Said is going to hand over the ‘King of Drift’ trophy.


Sure enough the spectators cheered and jumped as they announced Haitham al Hadidi.


Haitham’s lifted him and as the media surrounded the winner of the title there was one person who came with a small Omani flag providing the background for the interviewee, Haitham al Hadidi. If one thought he was a fan everyone was mistaken.


Shekhan al Abri spoke to Oman Observer and said with a twinkle in his eyes, I am Haitham’s grandfather. This is a very proud moment for me and for his parents and the whole family. Today I am very, very happy. I had never thought this day would come in my life. Since he is very young, his father and we noticed his interest in motor vehicles, and step by step we have been with him and then comes this day. We are very happy!”


This is how Red Bull defines drifting – “Drifting, a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers resulting in a loss of traction in the tires, has developed into a popular international motorsport.”


And there was a lot of that at Mina Sultan Qaboos port from 2.30 pm till sunset.


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