Muscat: Round One winner Ahmed Daham of Jordan is poised to keep his fine form as Oman International Drift Championship (OIDC) will hold the Round 2 on Thursday and Friday.
Daham was crowned winner in the opening round at the Oman Automobile Association’s (OAA) Muscat Drift Arena on January 15 and 16. Tommy Kiely claimed the second spot while Jack Shanahan finished third in the International Category.
In the Middle East & North Africa (Mena) category, Ahmed Daham was on top followed by local driver Ahmed al Amri in second and Khalifa al Falasi in third.
Ahmed al Amri was first on the national category with Tariq al Shaihani second and Ali al Balushi finishing third.
As many as 62 drivers from over 20 countries will lock horns in the second round in the drifting spectacle organised by the OAA as part of the Muscat Nights Festival 2026.
Former champion Ali Maksheed of Kuwait will look to bounce back in the second round after he lost to the Tommy Kiely in the Twin Drift battles of last 32 in the first round.
Last edition’s third-placed Clint van Oort of the Netherlands, Sebastian Fontijn (Netherlands), Lithuania’s Benediktas Cirba, Nasser al Herbali, Conor Shanahan and Andreus Vasiliauskas among others adds spice to the competition with strong challenge from Oman and Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.
Three Omanis – Ahmed al Amri, Ali al Balushi and Tariq al Shaihani – qualified for the last 32 in the first round. Seven local drifters are in the entry list for the second round including Haitham al Hadidi, Ali al Shaihani, Waqqas al Saud, Ali al Balushi, Tariq al Shaihani, Ahmed al Amri and Sultan al Balushi.
The first day of the championship on January 28, will be dedicated to qualifying rounds, where drivers will compete to secure their positions in the finals. The action intensifies on day two (January 29), which will feature the Top 32 battles, followed by Top 16, Top 8, with the final head-to-head Twin Drift battles, promising high-adrenaline competition for motorsport fans.
The event is being organised by the OAA under the chairmanship of Brigadier Jamal bin Said al Tai, managing director Suleiman al Rawahi and race director Fahmi al Busaidy. Shell is the main sponsor.
The upcoming round follows the remarkable success of the first round, which witnessed a historic and unprecedented global moment with the landing of a winged aircraft inside the drift arena — an extraordinary spectacle that occurred for the first time in the history of motorsports worldwide. This iconic moment captured widespread international attention and coincided with a complete sell-out of all event tickets, reflecting the massive public interest and enthusiasm.
The event will be supported by comprehensive logistical preparations and world-class spectator facilities, ensuring an exceptional experience for the large crowds that attend annually. These events continue to reinforce Oman’s position as a leading regional and international hub for motorsports.
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